The Accra West regional taskforce of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has cut power to the Accra Digital Center over non-payment of some GHC600,000 debt.
The disconnection forms part of the ECG Accra West region’s revenue drive to complement a national effort to recover some GHC5.7 billion owed by various ministries, departments and agencies, state-owned enterprises, postpaid and prepaid customers across the country. The exercise carried at Accra West Region is targeted at both public and private facilities in the industrial area.
The National Exercise is expected to end this week. Hence, the taskforce is aggressively mobilizing its revenue.
Commenting on the disconnection, the Accra West Regional Public Relations Office, Fred Baimbil-Johnson, revealed that about GHC25 million has been collected from special load-tariff customers, which he described as quite substantial. To this end, he expressed optimism that ECG will be able to give more details on the amount retrieved once the exercise is over.
“It is more frustrating dealing with customers who are owing but more difficult is realizing those who are engaging in illegal connections. We encourage people to pay for the power they use because we will clamp down on these illegalities.”
Fred Baimbil-Johnson
Meanwhile, the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) has been disconnected from the national grid for failing to pay a debt of GHC1.3 million to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
According to ECG, it is finding difficulties to settle power producers due to huge sums of arrears owed by its customers.
Western Region Public Relations Officer of the ECG, Benjamin Quarcoo, indicated that the Company had expectations that authorities of the university would ensure their debt was settled when the nationwide exercise began but they refused.
“Some have complied and made part payments, but others have decided not to. So, this morning we came to Takoradi Technical University, and we had no other option than to disconnect their electricity. They are owing us GH¢1.3 million so as we speak, they don’t have electricity. If they should pay us, we shall reconnect them.”
Benjamin Quarcoo
The company has so far disconnected many companies in the Western Region and the nation at large.
GWCL clears GHC2 million part-payment debt
On the other hand, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has paid GHC2 million out of its GHC17.5 million indebtedness to the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Volta Region, following two year of debt.
The GWCL last paid for electricity consumed in 2021, which led to the Company becoming the highest debtor of ECG in the Volta Region with a debt profile of GHC17.5 million. In light of this, ECG served the GWCL with a disconnection notice to settle its indebtedness or face disconnection on Tuesday, 4th April 2023.
The disconnection notice led to talks between both companies in the Volta Region which eventually saw the ECG rescind its decision to cut power supply to the facilities of GWCL.
Addressing the media, the Acting Volta Regional General Manager of ECG, Ing. Michael Buabin, stated that the Company rescinded its decision to disconnect GWCL on 4th April 2023 because he knew they “were going to pay something very soon since the discussions we had with them at the Regional and Head Office level were positive”.
Ing. Buabin indicated that the company is not embarking on a mass disconnection exercise but a revenue mobilization exercise “so once the company engages you, and you show commitment to pay, there can be a consensus”.
Ing. Buabin also noted that the GWCL provides essential services to consumers so disconnecting them also has adverse effects.
