Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the former Minister for Power, revealed that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) experiences a 30 percent loss of power due to both commercial and technical reasons.
During an interview on Morning Starr with Francis Abban, he emphasized the need to provide prepaid meters to most state institutions.
“The laboratories and everything else should go on prepaid like the hospital has a huge IGF and yet never see the payment for power as a priority. It was only this year a month or so ago that the Ministry of Health is now saying that going forward the government will not pay for electricity. Are we serious?
“I will only advise that they put the operating theatres on postpaid. The wards, the laboratories not even the morgues should be on prepaid. It is one of the most profitable units of Korle-Bu. In other jurisdictions, the Chief Executive of Korle-Bu will not necessarily be a medical doctor. By the way, it sounds, you are basically running a business organization.
He continued: “The same goes to the Universities, the public Universities apart from the laboratories and probably the lecture halls everything else there should go prepaid. If you look at ECG, ECG loses nearly 30 per cent of what it buys in technical and commercial losses, the Commercial loses are even more. How many businesses have a markup of 30 per cent?”
The MP for the Pru Constituency went on to say that providing our prepaid meters is the only way to stop electricity theft.
“So right from the word go we are in a loss-making situation. So let’s put measures in place that will make stealing difficult. Put the person on prepaid and if the person bypasses the meter then he’s even a bigger thief,” Dr. Donkor stated.
In 2021, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) experienced a significant decline in its financial performance, recording a loss of ¢1.913 billion, compared to a profit of ¢822.549 million in the previous year.
This signifies a substantial deterioration of 332.7% in the company’s financial standing.
Based on the 2022 Auditor General Report, the company’s total income saw a reduction of 13.7%, reaching ¢12.104 billion in 2021.
This decline in total income was primarily due to a decrease in government grants, which were payments made by the government to power generating entities on behalf of the Electricity Company of Ghana.
Additionally, the company incurred a direct cost of ¢12.104 billion in 2021, a decrease from the ¢14.03 billion recorded in 2020. However, the total expenditure witnessed a 6.1% increase, rising from ¢13.210 billion in 2020 to ¢14.018 billion in 2021.
This rise was largely attributed to higher expenses related to power purchases and transmission costs during the reviewed year.
Regarding its balance sheet, the company witnessed a 9.7% surge in Non-Current Assets, climbing from ¢20.468 billion in 2020 to ¢22.461 billion in 2021. This elevation was attributed to gains recognized through asset revaluation and the acquisition of additional property, plant, and equipment throughout the year.
Furthermore, there was a 2.2% uptick in current Assets, ascending from ¢8.064 billion in 2020 to ¢8.241 billion in 2021, primarily due to an increase in trade and other receivables.
Conversely, Current Liabilities experienced a notable 21.5% rise, advancing from ¢14.566 billion in 2020 to ¢17.698 billion in 2021, driven by an upsurge in trade and other payables.
The current ratio witnessed a decline from 0.6:1 in 2020 to 0.5:1 in 2021, indicating the company’s challenge in meeting its short-term financial obligations.
Vice President of IMANI Ghana, Bright Simons, has accused the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) of spending a colossal amount of $150 million of meters without a tender.
In a Twitter post on August 2, 2023, he noted that the company is “aggressively pushing for exemption from all procurement laws.”
Mr Bright Simons based his assertion on a letter dated April 17, 2023, from the ECG in response to his request for documentation on the company’s position on the Public Procurement Act on February 21, 2023.
According to the ECG, the Company, in accordance with its legal status as a private incorporated company, has as a matter corporate policy been operating without strict adherence to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2003 (Act 663) although the principles underpinning Act 663 have been incorporated in the Procurement Policy of ECG to ensure a judicious, economic and efficient use of the financial resources of ECG.
“We further agree to have our legal team hold themselves in readiness to engage with your team to better understand the position of the Company, should this be deemed necessary. Your cooperation in this regard is much appreciated,” the letter added.
Mr Simons has been questioning the efficiency of the new ECG management under the leadership of Managing Director, Samuel Dubik Mahama, in recent times.
Meanwhile, former Power Minister, Dr. Kwabena Donkor has advised the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to increase its efficiency if it wants to prevent financial losses.
According to him, ECG usually incurred losses due to technical and commercial mishaps during power distribution. This, he says, negatively impacts profit.
“The way out is first ECG has to improve its efficiency. ECG losses about 30% of power they buy either in technical loses or commercialise loses and their margin is not 30%,” he said.
The former Power Minister and current Pru East MP, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has expressed his belief that the Auditor General (AG) does not have the authority to audit companies, including public companies like the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
In a recent report by the Auditor-General, it was revealed that there were significant procurement breaches amounting to over $145 million involving ECG.
These breaches occurred during the period from 2016 to 2021 and were related to the signing of 50 contracts for the procurement of 862,750 meters and their accessories.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, ECG’s failure to adhere to the Public Procurement Act resulted in a lack of consideration for value for money, competitiveness, and transparency in the procurement process.
However, Dr. Kwabena Donkor disagrees with the audit and argues that the Auditor General should not have the power to audit companies.
“I have stated it publicly and I brought the Attorney General to Parliament and he reechoed that, the Auditor General has no power to audit companies. The law does not give him that power,” he said.
He contends that the law does not grant the Auditor General the authority to conduct audits of commercial entities like ECG, especially if they are set up to operate commercially.
In his view, once these companies are established to function as ordinary private commercial entities, they should be allowed to operate without being subject to public auditing restrictions.
It’s important to note that this is a difference in interpretation and opinion on the scope of the Auditor General’s authority, and it may be subject to further legal or administrative clarification in Ghana’s governance system.
An 18-year-old, Maxwell Afful, has been found guilty by the Achimota District Court for stealing and possessing stolen meters belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
He has been sentenced to pay a fine of 40 penalty units. In case of default, as he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of stolen property and intentionally interfering with the supplier’s distribution system, meters, and equipment, he will serve a four-month jail term.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution presented the facts of the case before His Worship Prince Osei Owusu, who presided over the court.
According to the prosecution, Afful was apprehended by the Achimota Mile 7 Police Patrol team at dawn, and he was carrying a backpack containing tools and six stolen meters from ECG customers’ premises.
Afful, now a convict, confessed in his statement that he removed meters installed in households and sold them to other customers at various locations.
Dr. Mark Owusu Ansah, the Revenue Protection Manager of ECG, Accra West Region, expressed concern over the alarming trend and the impact it has on the Company’s ability to provide quality service.
He explained that the stolen meters were geo-tagged, which allowed ECG monitoring teams to track their movements.
“Our installed meters are geo-tagged to indicate their exact locations. This helps our teams monitor the state of our meter installations regularly,” Dr. Ansah stated. He further emphasized that the theft, resale, and relocation of installed meters affected the Company’s revenue generation since some clients used electricity without paying due to the illegal activities.
Mr. Emmanuel Akinie, the General Manager of ECG, Accra West Region, issued a warning to criminals involved in meter theft and sales, urging them to cease such actions. He informed that the Company was implementing technology to identify stolen and re-installed meters.
“All our installed meters are geo-tagged to indicate their exact locations. This helps our teams to monitor the state of our meter installations regularly,” he said, adding that, however, stealing, reselling and changing the original location of installed meters was affecting the revenue generation of the Company because some clients used power without paying due to the illegality.
The Accra West Region, comprising eight operational districts—Ablekuma, Achimota, Amasaman, Bortianor, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Korlebu, and Nsawam—has already reported approximately 600-meter theft cases in four of the eight operational districts since the beginning of the year.
As per the Auditor-General’s findings, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been involved in procurement breaches amounting to over $145 million. The power distributor’s board and management neglected to adhere to the Public Procurement Act while entering into 50 contracts for the procurement of 862,750 meters and accessories between 2016 and 2021.
The 2022 Performance Audit Report on the Management of Meters by the Electricity Company Limited revealed that ECG did not adequately consider legal procedures to ensure transparency and competitiveness in the tender process, thus failing to achieve value for money.
A graphic.com.gh report on the issue read in part: “Though the meters procured were taken through rigorous testing to ensure that specifications were met, ECG did not take steps to explore the possibility of getting meters of the same specifications at lower prices from other manufacturers other than the ones in its database.”
Why the audit?
The purpose of the audit leading to this revelation was to assess ECG’s planning, budgeting, procurement, and monitoring processes concerning its installed meters to combat power theft effectively.
The audit spanned from August to December 2022, encompassing the period from 2016 to 2021.
During the audit process, crucial documents were thoroughly reviewed, and auditors conducted interviews with key personnel across various departments within the ECG system. These interviews included personnel from the ECG Head Office, Metering and Technical Services (MTS) Division, Materials and Depot in the Greater Accra Region, as well as four selected regional and nine district offices.
The Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are currently facing a pressing crisis as they contemplate the possibility of shutting down their power plants in the coming days.
The reason behind this looming shutdown is the mounting debt owed to them by the government, which has now ballooned to over $2 billion.
Initially, the IPPs had decided against taking such drastic measures as shutting down their plants.
They engaged in discussions with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in an attempt to find a resolution to the debt issue.
Unfortunately, despite assurances made during these discussions, it appears that the agreements have been breached, leaving the IPPs disappointed and uncertain about what lies ahead.
In response to this precarious situation, the IPPs held a meeting on Thursday and, for the time being, have chosen to continue their power production. However, they expressed deep concerns about the sustainability of their operations over an extended period if the debt remains unsettled.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the severity of the situation has reached a critical point, as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is currently unable to pay for gas transportation services due to outstanding payments from the government. Additionally, the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company also faces the risk of shutting down its valves unless the government takes urgent action to settle its debt to the company.
Stakeholders in the energy sector are sounding alarm bells over the potential power crisis that could unfold if the IPPs decide to cut their supply due to the mounting debt issue.
The IPPs are major contributors to the country’s energy generation mix, controlling about 50 percent of it. However, the burden of debt has significantly impacted their ability to access working capital, hindering their capacity to finance crucial inputs such as chemicals for water treatment in thermal generators, many of which are priced in foreign currency, particularly the US dollar.
In light of these challenges, it is crucial for the government to address the debt situation urgently. The IPPs are in dire need of debt settlement to avert a power crisis and ensure the stability of Ghana’s energy sector.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that the government’s digitisation agenda has achieved impressive results.
He said the agenda has helped in maximising revenue for the country through some major institutions in the country including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Passport office.
Speaking at the National Development Conference under the theme ‘Moral Vision and National Development’, he noted that this has demonstrated the transformative power of technology in driving efficiency, revenue growth, and improved services across crucial sectors of the economy.
He also stated that this has been instrumental in curbing corruption.
“In times past, it used to be easy to lie about your age and get away with it, particularly in the government sector. At the port, for instance, we have introduced the paperless system, and this came with resistance. Some of the custom officers organized demonstrations against the move, but we were firm on our stance. Today, at the offices of ECG, you can buy your credit without any challenges.”
Providing data to back his claim, he noted that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has increased its annual revenue from 450 million cedis to 1.2 million cedis after the power distribution company went digital.
He also indicated that the passport office has witnessed a significant change in its revenue mobilisation, from GHC1 million cedis to 64 million cedis.
Government has been pursuing a digitisation agenda, which has mainly been pushed by the Vice President. Various initiatives and projects aimed at embracing technology and digital transformation are integral components of this agenda.
Commenting on the development, the Vice President indicated that many challenges associated with the digitisation drive have been dealt with as a result.
“The challenges with ECG initially were that the revenues of ECG were constant and the values were the same. We looked at the architecture of revenue of ECG and we changed it. They were collecting 450 million cedis a month as revenue. We sent in a team to work on their system.
“There were sabotage attempts, such as people sending viruses into the system to destroy our work, but we were resilient and brought in a whole new architecture for ECG. Today, they make over 1 million cedis as revenues monthly. The same happened at the passport office, which was making 1 million cedis to over 65 million cedis.”
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has emphasized the importance of the digitalization efforts he has spearheaded during the tenure of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government.
Speaking at the inaugural Nation Development Conference organized by the Church of Pentecost, which focused on the significance of building moral values to drive Ghana’s development, Dr. Bawumia highlighted that their administration not only advocates for moral values among Ghanaians but has also implemented concrete measures to address unethical behavior.
He specifically cited the successful example of digitalizing the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which effectively put an end to the misappropriation of state funds within the company.
The digitalization drive played a crucial role in curbing the stealing of funds and promoting transparency in the management of state resources.
“We noticed some very, very interesting piece of data which speaks to the problems of ECG. We look at the data and for a period of four years or so the revenue of ECG was virtually constant. We said this cannot be possible. How can you get more customers and revenue was virtually the same?
“They didn’t even take their time to change the value, so we sent in a team to look at the architecture of revenue collection at ECG and digitalise the process. They were collecting GH¢450 million a month.
“When we sent in the team, there was subrogate, a malware was introduced into the system by people working right there and we then brought in a whole new architecture. And after the completion of this digitalisation process, GH¢450 million a month increased into GH¢1.2 billion every month,” he narrated.
During the inaugural National Development Conference, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia highlighted the significant achievements made through digitalization efforts in the Akufo-Addo government. He cited examples such as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) where digitalization effectively curbed misappropriation of state funds. Furthermore, revenue collection agencies, including the Passport Office, saw a remarkable increase in revenue from GH¢1 million to GH¢64 million per year, demonstrating the success of these measures.
The conference, held in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association, centered on the theme “Moral Vision and National Development.” Its primary focus was to discuss the necessity of a national moral vision accompanied by a concerted effort for overall national development.
The event was graced by prominent figures, including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, and former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama.
Various government officials attended the conference, including Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Stephen Asamoah Boateng, and Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.
The conference, which commenced on July 27, 2023, was attended by Members of Parliament, including Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, as well as members of the Council of State. Notably present were also members of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, representatives from various churches in Ghana, and representatives from the National Chief Imam.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has lauded the positive outcomes of Ghana’s digital transformation, highlighting remarkable increases in annual revenues for key agencies.
Speaking at the National Development Conference themed “Moral Vision and National Development,” Dr. Bawumia emphasized that digitization has significantly curbed corruption.
He revealed that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) saw a substantial surge in annual revenue, rising from 450 million cedis to an impressive 1.2 million cedis, after adopting digital practices.
Similarly, the passport office experienced a remarkable transformation, with its revenue escalating from 1 million cedis to an impressive 64 million cedis.
Dr. Bawumia attributed these success stories to the government’s digitization agenda, which has substantially improved efficiency and transparency within these agencies.
“In times past, it used to be easy to lie about your age and get away with it, particularly in the government sector. At the port, for instance, we have introduced the paperless system, and this came with resistance. Some of the custom officers organized demonstrations against the move, but we were firm on our stance. Today, at the offices of ECG, you can buy your credit without any challenges.”
“The challenges with ECG initially were that the revenues of ECG were constant and the values were the same. We looked at the architecture of revenue of ECG and we changed it. They were collecting 450 million cedis a month as revenue. We sent in a team to work on their system. There were sabotage attempts, such as people sending viruses into the system to destroy our work, but we were resilient and brought in a whole new architecture for ECG. Today, they make over 1 million cedis as revenues monthly. The same happened at the passport office, which was making 1 million cedis to over 65 million cedis,” he added.
He noted that the ECG’s revenue used to remain stagnant despite an increasing customer base, but with the digitization efforts, monthly revenues have soared significantly.
The passport office also witnessed a dramatic revenue boost due to the adoption of digital processes.
Dr. Bawumia mentioned that initially, there were challenges and resistance to the digitization efforts, but the government remained firm in its stance, leading to remarkable results.
“As Ghanaians, we have thrown away our values. Today, our cities are so dirty. When we were children and growing up, we used to wake up early in the morning and sweep our compounds. But today, that is not the case. Today, society is not concerned about how we make money and the manner in which we make them. Greed and theft have taken over our space, and people who are engaged in that are celebrated, yet society is not concerned.”
Former Presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama also addressed the conference, emphasizing the importance of preserving African values.
Former President Mahama expressed concerns about the erosion of traditional values and the adoption of foreign cultures, urging Ghanaians to uphold essential Ghanaian values in society.
Former President Kufuor emphasized the significance of morality in Ghanaian society and called for its integration into development pursuits, irrespective of backgrounds or ideologies.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo also stressed the need for justice to prevail in all aspects of Ghanaian life to ensure peaceful coexistence among diverse individuals.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, emphasized the urgency of tackling corruption through robust legislation and by fostering a culture of integrity and competence within the nation. He highlighted the need to address corruption comprehensively to achieve lasting progress.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Eastern Region has made a heartfelt plea to the residents, urging them to establish watchdog committees in their neighborhoods to protect transformers and other equipment from thefts.
The appeal comes in response to a notable increase in transformer thefts within the region, carried out by unidentified individuals.
Within a span of just one month, seven transformers have fallen victim to theft. One such incident involved a 50 kv transformer, installed for streetlights near Koforidua’s Oyoko Roundabout, which was taken away last Tuesday.
Additionally, thieves brought down a transformer at Pampaso No 1 in the Suhum district, opening the tank and making off with valuable copper wires.
On another occasion, an attempt was made on a transformer located at Oboma farms in Kade.
The Public Relations Officer of ECG in the Eastern Region, Emmanuel Halm, disclosed that the thieves recently cut off cables and disconnected panels of a transformer, plunging the entire community into darkness. Fortunately, they managed to escape when alert passersby raised an alarm.
The surge in transformer thefts has become a significant concern for ECG, with a total of four transformers brought down and attempts made to access their tanks during this period. Copper wires have been a common target for these thieves.
In light of these troubling incidents, ECG appeals to the general public for assistance in apprehending these culprits who continue to pose a threat to the electrical infrastructure.
The establishment of community watchdog committees can play a crucial role in protecting the vital equipment and ensuring the well-being of the entire region.
“We have been hit by a worrying trend which is a surge in transformer thefts. We have visited seven electricity-mounted transformers and four transformers have been brought down and the thieves attempted to open the tanks of the transformers, and they often steal the copper wires. Just this Monday, we were hit by another theft near the Kade District
“We are therefore appealing to the general public to help us to apprehend such culprits who come around our transformers.”
Unknown individuals have broken into Aflao Senior High School (SHS), dismantling the electricity transformer and stealing its components.
They also dug out and took away the underground cables connected to the transformer, plunging the school into darkness.
The school’s headmaster, Shadrack Abiuw, recounted the incident during a visit, stating that it occurred about two weeks ago.
Since then, the lack of electricity has severely affected teaching and learning activities.
Abiuw appealed to the Ketu South Municipal Assembly and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to assist in replacing the stolen transformer to ensure smooth academic operations.
He pointed out that the school has operated for two years without any security personnel, attributing the incident to this lack of security presence. He urged the relevant institutions to send security personnel to protect the school from such occurrences in the future.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has identified over 4,000 substandard and unapproved meters during its zero revenue mobilization exercise.
There are concerns regarding the potential involvement of the private sector in supplying meters, as there is a fear of introducing inefficient meters to customers.
Laila Abubakari, ECG’s communications manager, emphasized the possible dangers associated with allowing private individuals to distribute meters.
“Even though we are trying as much as possible to be open to certain solutions regarding procuring and supplying meters, I wouldn’t say that giving that authority to private people to vend meters is the best solution. We have already found over 4,000 foreign meters in the system, and these meters were allowing people to use power without paying.
“We also know about people who have procured meters and discarded them after the meters have accrued a lot of debt on them. We don’t know if we have honest vendors, and by the time we realize, we might be in very big trouble and won’t be able to revert those.”
Laila Abubakari further highlighted the worry that permitting private individuals or companies to distribute meters might result in the introduction of manipulated and tampered meters into the system.
“The new idea of us relinquishing the procurement and supply of meters to private people is one that might be problematic in the future. The thing about meters is that they can be manipulated, so for us, it is better to know the kinds of meters out there and how they can be manipulated, and how we can correct such manipulations.”
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Volta Region has encouraged its customers to utilize the ECG PowerApp for settling all outstanding bills.
This move is aimed at ensuring a stable power supply and sustaining the electricity distribution chain.The company has launched an initiative called “Operation Zero,” which focuses on mass revenue mobilization.
Starting on 11th July and spanning two months, this exercise aims to prompt all electricity consumers to clear any arrears they may have.
In an interview with the media, Ms. Christina Jatoe-Kaleo, the General Manager of ECG Volta Region, revealed that the ECG PowerApp has been updated with new features, such as customer statements, bill viewing, and payment history.
Additionally, users with smart prepaid meters in the Volta Region can now access their consumption history through the app.To ensure the success of Operation Zero, the company has decided to discontinue accepting cash payments at their offices.
Furthermore, field staff will not be authorized to collect cash as part of this initiative.
“Our staff are not accepting cash, so we humbly appeal to all customers to visit Google Play Store or App Store and download or update the ECG PowerApp to view and pay their bills before our revenue officers visit their premises. Customers can also pay and view their bills through the shortcode *226#”, she said.
The General Manager stated that Operation Zero is currently being implemented in all 11 Districts of ECG, spanning both the Volta and Oti Regions.
This exercise stands out from previous ones, as it aims to address two categories of customers: those already within the ECG system and those consuming power but not officially registered with ECG.
By targeting both these customer groups, the Electricity Company of Ghana aims to bring more consumers into the formal system, ensure all electricity users contribute to revenue generation, and ultimately improve the stability of power supply and the overall sustainability of the electricity distribution chain.
This approach seeks to achieve a more comprehensive and effective revenue mobilization effort.
“As part of this exercise, we are also looking at customers who are consuming power but not in the system of ECG. For example, when we get to your house and realize your meter is not in our system or you are consuming power through illegal means, we will capture your details, regularize your supply and give you a flat rate”
According to Ms. Jatoe-Kaleo, the Li 2413 (likely referring to a specific legal provision or regulation) empowers the company to impose additional charges on customers who have outstanding bills for a period of twelve months. However, as part of the Operation Zero exercise, the company has decided to offer a moratorium to its customers.
During this moratorium period, customers who have been using electricity without making payments, as well as those with direct connections, faulty meters, or meters obtained through illegal means such as “Foreign meters,” are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. They should visit the ECG Office to regularize their electricity supply within the system.
It’s worth noting that some companies have already faced disconnection due to non-payment of their bills as part of the Operation Zero exercise.
This shows the company’s commitment to enforcing the moratorium and ensuring that customers meet their payment obligations.
“The Zoomlion recycling plant at Dambai and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in Dambai have been disconnected for owing 12,514 GH Cedis and 9, 981 Gh Cedis respectively”.
Electricity supply to the Treasure Island Hotel and the Musahamat Banana Farm in Aveyime has been cut off by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The action is a part of Operation Zero, the electricity company’s ongoing effort to mobilize income.
The Farm Business, a part of the Tema Region of ECG’s Ada District, owes the energy distributor GH219,184.42, while Treasure Island Hotel owes GH379,775.95; as a result, both of their connections were cut off on Thursday.
ECG on Tuesday, July 11 , began a two-month-long campaign to ensure that all customer of theirs pay outstanding debt.
“The intention is that once customers have consumed electricity, they must be ready to pay for it in a bid not to build debt,” said Sakyiwaa Mensah, ECG PRO for Tema Region.
In another development, the Aveyime Irrigation also got disconnected over a debt of GH₵63,801.22 while the Ada Technical Institute has also been disconnected over their GH₵71,102.11 indebtedness to the electricity distributor.
“The Operation Zero campaign has many of the staff of ECG deployed to the field, visiting customers, ensuring debts are being paid, monitoring meters to ensure their integrity, checking on other ECG installations as well as customer education on ECG going cashless and how to use its mobile app, the Power App,” said Ms. Mensah.
She further added, “there are, however, a lean presence of staff available in all offices, overseeing to customers who may visit the offices for additional services”.
The utility company also recommends that all meters on customers’ properties be made accessible to its staff by both customers and the general public.
Customers and the general public are recommended to use mobile money or debit cards wherever possible to pay ECG since the corporation conducts cashless transactions.
In the Tema Region, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has taken the decision to disconnect power supply to the Musahamat Banana Farm, Treasure Island, and the Ada Technical Institute due to outstanding debts owed to the company.
The disconnection forms part of ECG’s ongoing revenue mobilization, dubbed “Operation Zero.”
The Musahamat Banana Farm, located in Aveyime, owes the ECG a total of GHC219,184.42, Ms. Sakyiwaa Mensah, Tema Regional Public Relations Officer for the ECG, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency.
Ms. Mensah said Treasure Island Hotel, on the other hand, owed GHC379,775.95, hence their disconnection.
She said Aveyime Irrigation also got disconnected over a debt of GHC63,801.22 while the Ada Technical Institute also suffered the same over GHC71,102.11 indebtedness to the electricity distributor.
She stated that the Company commenced the two-month operations on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, to ensure that no customer of theirs has an unpaid debt.
“The intention is that once customers have consumed electricity, they must be ready to pay for it in a bid not to build debt.”
The PRO stated that the ‘Operation Zero’ campaign had many of the staff of ECG deployed to the field to visit customers, ensure debts payment, monitor metres to ensure their integrity, check on other ECG installations, and provide customer education on ECG cashless system and how to use its mobile app, the Power App.
She added that “there is, however, a lean presence of staff available in all offices, overseeing customers who may visit the offices for additional services.”
She also advised the customers and the general public to allow their staff access to all metres on their premises.
“The customers and the general public are also advised to ensure that all possible payments are made with mobile money or debit cards to ECG, as the company is doing cashless transactions.”
Five customers, including PrinMoss Pharmacy in Sefwi Asawinso, have been handed over to the police by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for flouting its rules and regulations.
ECG took this action to ensure payment for services and maintain smooth operations.
The Sefwi Wiawso branch conducted disconnection exercises on July 11, 2023, and discovered the illegal reconnections during a follow-up exercise on Thursday.
Benjamin Quarcoo, the Western Regional Communications Officer for ECG said, “Yesterday, our aim was to verify if customers had any outstanding debts with ECG and disconnect those who owed the company. Today, we returned to ensure that those customers who were disconnected yesterday had not illegally reconnected their power supply.”
“When we came, we realised some of them had reconnected themselves illegal so we had to disconnect them and hand them over to the Asawinso police. We expect the police to process them for court.”
Mr. Quarcoo emphasized that it is crucial for the public to understand that if they are disconnected by ECG due to nonpayment of bills, they are strictly prohibited by law from reconnecting themselves.
He advised the public to adhere to legal procedures and seek proper resolution for any issues related to their electricity supply.
Five customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), including PrinMoss Pharmacy in Sefwi Asawinso in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region, have been turned over to the police to be investigated and prosecuted for unauthorized electricity reconnection.
The Sefwi Wiawso branch of ECG undertook a disconnection exercise at Asawinso on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 to make sure that all owed meters are turned off.
This was done as part of the company’s efforts to guarantee that consumers pay for the services provided to them for a smooth running of their operations.
Five home users and PrinMoss Pharmacy were discovered to have rejoined again but illegally during a follow-up exercise on Thursday by the firm to verify complete compliance by consumers.
The western regional Communications officer for ECG, Benjamin Quarcoo speaking in an interview with Citi News said: “We were here yesterday to ensure our customers were not owing the ECG and those who owe the company were disconnected. We decided to revisit this place to ensure the customers who were disconnected yesterday had not reconnected themselves illegally.”
“When we came, we realised some of them had reconnected themselves illegal so we had to disconnect them and hand them over to the Asawinso police. We expect the police to process them for court.”
Mr Quarcoo educated the public that should they be disconnected by the ECG for nonpayment of bills, they cannot reconnect themselves on their own accord as it is unlawful.
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) is seeking clarification regarding the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) GH¢540 million discretionary spending, despite the power sector facing tight liquidity concerns.
In a statement, ACEP expressed concern that the power distribution company had spent GH¢540 million out of the GH¢1.1 billion it recovered from consumers in March and April this year, as part of the ongoing debt recovery exercise. ACEP criticized the lack of justification for such discretionary spending, especially considering the financial challenges faced by the power sector.
The power sector has been grappling with well-documented challenges, including the government’s struggle to settle a debt of GH¢1.9 billion to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) by the end of June. This difficulty arises from the ECG’s inability to effectively collect revenues from the power it supplies to consumers.
ACEP noted that there has been no noticeable improvement in liquidity within the sector, particularly through the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CMW). The CMW serves as the established framework for tracking collections and payments along the power sector value chain.
“There has been no discernible improvement in liquidity, at least through the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CMW) – the established mechanism for tracking collections and payments along the power sector value chain.
“ACEP’s analysis of the CWM data indicates that ‘substantial portions of ECG’s collections were not directed toward paying off the value chain or making any substantial impact on the continually escalating debt owed to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the rest of stakeholders’,” the energy think-tank statement read.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), a state-owned entity, initiated a debt recovery campaign to collect an estimated GH¢5.7 billion owed by power consumers. However, the company only managed to recover approximately GH¢3.1 billion.
The civil society organization emphasizes that according to the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), all revenues should be properly accounted for, and distributions should be carried out based on approved proportions determined by the CWM committee.
Reports from the CWM reveal that the ECG’s earnings for the two months amount to GH¢1.1 billion, which represents approximately 35 percent of the GH¢3.1 billion claimed to have been recovered by the ECG.
ACEP asserts that more than 50 percent of the reported revenue is allegedly allocated for discretionary spending by the ECG, leaving a balance of only about 11 percent of the revenue required for the sector under the CWM for March and April 2023.
According to ACEP’s recent report on the power sector, the ECG has stated that it utilized GH¢540 million to procure liquid fuel for certain power plants during periods of gas supply shortages, while refusing to pay the gas suppliers through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
However, based on the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) formula, the ECG was entitled to 26.37 percent of the revenue, which should have amounted to approximately GH¢113.5 million out of the reported revenue of about GH¢430 million for March and April.
Surprisingly, the ECG allocated around GH¢256 million (roughly 59 percent of the CWM revenue) to itself, deviating significantly from the prescribed allocation formula. The GH¢256 million acquired by the ECG represents about 78.4 percent of its billed invoices for March and April.
In contrast, the ECG paid only between 3.1 percent and 12.4 percent of the invoices billed by other entities within the power value chain.
ACEP’s report highlights that beyond the 78.4 percent disbursement, the ECG’s claim of improved revenue collection suggests that a substantial portion of the collected revenues is not being reported under the CWM.
“The non-payment to gas sector companies compelled the West Africa Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCO) to reduce Reverse Flow gas volumes from the West to the East to the contracted volume of 60mmscfd. On July 1, 2023, WAPCO curtailed the reverse flow of gas for hours because of the outstanding payments.
“Out of the prior agreed scheduled payment of US$15.236million due for June 2023, GNPC could pay only US$1.246million – attracting the activation of contractual clauses to cut supply. Subsequently, gas supply has been restored on condition that government pays half the outstanding balance of US$20million by July 7, 2023,” ACEP said.
Additionally, there are outstanding gas supply payments from the Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) field, totaling nearly US$600 million. This amount includes approximately US$380 million for letter of credit (LC) drawdowns and additional invoices of about US$207 million.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that the government has already disbursed over US$1 billion for gas consumed by the power sector since 2018, although these costs are incorporated in the tariff.
In light of these facts, ACEP has concluded that the ECG’s decision to prioritize the payment for liquid fuel while undermining gas supply demonstrates a lack of concern for the financial damage it inflicts on the public purse.
Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), the institution responsible for managing the National Interconnected Transmission System, has announced a shortage in thermal power generation.
This deficit is primarily attributed to the restricted availability of gas supply originating from both the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP) and the West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCo).
In a statement issued on Friday, July 7, GRIDCo said “This has created a supply gap of 650 Megawatts of power at peak time which will affect consumers in some parts of the country.”
GRIDCo has however assured that “Every effort is being made to restore gas supply from Atuabo.”
“As the situation improves, power will be restored to affected customers” the statement added.
In a recent statement released on Friday, July 7, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the power distributor, extended its apologies to customers who are currently facing power outages due to the prevailing circumstances.
It further explained that as a result of the gas situation at Atuabo and WAPCo, all Asogli phase-One units, Cenpower, and Aksa Power Plants have shutdown, leading to a generation shortfall.
It says the Ghana National Gas Company has assured that it will resolve the issue as soon as possible.
“Meanwhile, ECG expects power supply to be fully restored by 9:00pm today, Friday, 7th July, 2023” the statement added.
The Training School of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been organized a one-day training program for electrical contractors as part of the company’s commitment to ensuring safety compliance in its operational installations.
The second session of this year’s training series took place on July 6, 2023, at the ECG Training Centre in Tema.
These contractors, who primarily operate as third-party contractors for the company, carry out a range of tasks on behalf of ECG.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Training School has been organizing training programs for ECG electrical contractors to update them on ECG’s practices and ensure adherence to operational and safety protocols.
Dr. George Eduful, a General Manager at ECG’s Energy Consulting and Telco Business Directorate, emphasized the importance of maintaining safe power distribution infrastructure and keeping contractors up-to-date with industry advancements and regulations.
Ing. Aheng Owusu-Afriyie, the ECG Director of the Training Centre, highlighted the centre’s commitment to providing competent and practical knowledge while prioritizing safety. The Training Centre offers various technical training programs to meet different needs.
During a tour of the Training Centre, Ing. Owusu-Afriyie showcased the installations, including a substation and the Lifeline feature. The Lifeline ensures uninterrupted power supply to customers during repair works, minimizing outages.
The ECG Training Centre not only serves the nation’s energy sector but also provides training and support to players from other West African countries.
Mr. Awal Sakib Muhammed, President of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association, commended the training program’s focus on maintaining a sanitized practice to prevent accidents. He urged the public to purchase electrical cables from trusted sources to avoid substandard products that could lead to fires and potential loss of life and property.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has introduced cashless system and PowerApp to enhance customer experience.
The General Manager of External Communications at ECG, Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, shared details during a stakeholders’ engagement with Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
Cash payments will no longer be accepted at ECG offices, urging customers to use digital payment options.
The PowerApp enables direct reporting of issues, reducing response times and improving customer satisfaction.
It provides a user-friendly interface for accessing and managing electricity accounts, including bill payments and power consumption monitoring.
ECG assures the safety and convenience of the PowerApp with robust security measures.
The GPRTU Chairman supports the cashless system and pledges support for awareness and education.
It questions the transparency of the GHS 3.1 billion collected by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
ACEP cited the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) reports to challenge ECG’s financial management accountability.
ECG reported GHS 1.1 billion in total revenue between March and April, averaging GHS 550 million per month.
However, this amount represents only about 35% of the claimed GHS 3.1 billion.
ACEP’s report also reveals that over 50% of the reported revenue, around GHS 540 million, was spent at ECG’s discretion.
Additionally, the remaining GHS 1.1 billion accounts for only about 11% of the revenue requirement for the sector under the CWM during March and April 2023.
Regarding the usage of GHS 540 million for liquid fuel procurement, ECG claims it was necessary due to gas supply shortfalls but refuses to pay the gas suppliers through GNPC.
Consequently, this non-payment leads to repercussions such as reduced reverse flow gas volumes by WAPCO and curtailed gas supply from July 1, 2023, due to outstanding payments.
ACEP’s report also sheds light on the outstanding gas supply payments from the Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) field, which amount to nearly $600 million. The report indicates arrears of about $380 million for LC drawdowns and additional invoices of around $207 million.
ACEP questions ECG’s priorities, especially when the government has already paid over $1 billion for gas consumed by the power sector since 2018.
“The government has already paid more than $1 billion for gas consumed by the power sector since 2018, though captured in the tariff. Thus, for ECG to ignore all the realities and pay for liquid fuel while undermining gas supply, it is not difficult to conclude that the company does not care about the fiscal damage it causes to the public.”
ACEP’s report highlights a striking disparity in ECG’s revenue allocation based on the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM). As per the CWM formula, ECG should have received approximately GHS 113.5 million, accounting for 26.37% of the reported revenue of around GHS 430 million during March and April.
However, ECG allocated around GHS 256 million to itself, deviating significantly from the prescribed allocation formula. ACEP’s report emphasizes this discrepancy, stating, “ECG disproportionately assigned a significant portion of its revenue under the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) to itself while substantially underpaying other entities within the value chain.”
The report also reveals a stark contrast in payment percentages between ECG and other entities involved in the value chain. While ECG disbursed approximately 78.4% of its billed invoices for March and April, it only paid between 3.1% and 12.4% of the invoices billed by other entities.
ACEP’s report states, “The GHS 256 million ECG encumbered is about 78.4% of its billed invoices for March and April. On the contrary, ECG paid between 3.1% and 12.4% of the invoices billed by other entities within the value chain.”
ACEP’s conclusion asserts that ECG’s actions not only disrupt the equilibrium of the energy sector but also jeopardize the financial stability of the country.
The report strongly emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive investigation into ECG’s financial practices and the whereabouts of the GHS 3.1 billion collected.
ACEP urgently calls upon the government to take immediate action in order to restore trust and confidence in the energy sector.
The report underscores the significance of transparent revenue collection, effective financial governance, and stringent accountability measures to guarantee a sustainable and dependable power supply for Ghana.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has yet again announced the commencement of another nationwide revenue mobilization. This new initiative is known as “Operation Zero.”
In an official statement, the ECG stated that the exercise is expected to begin on July 11 and end on September 11, 2023. It is going to be a two-month campaign that aims to recover every outstanding debt to the last pesewa.
ECG emphasised that as part of the operation, it would thoroughly inspect customers’ homes and all other power-consuming facilities.
During this exercise, ECG will grant a moratorium to all who are consuming electricity without paying for it, to allow them to visit their respective ECG offices for immediate regularisation of their supply.
The ECG will also collaborate closely with the security services, who will detain and prosecute anyone who attempts to obstruct the process. This mobilization exercise will add up to the previous exercises embarked on by the power company.
The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) closed all its district, regional, and head offices on March 20, 2023, to embark on a month-long Nationwide Revenue mobilisation exercise that ended on April 20, 2023. The aim was to recover an amount of GH¢5.7 billion from its customers.
To intensify the action, the ECG again embarked on another mobilization exercise that commenced on June 26, 2023, and ended on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
Meanwhile, the managing director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has toned down calls for the company’s revenue collection function to be privatised.
On the heels of the current deadlock between the government and the Chamber of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), this suggestion was made by some analysts.
Mr. Mahama also argued that ECG is doing better now than when it was under Power Distribution Services (PDS) Limited.
Speaking in an interview with Citi TV, Mr Mahama mentioned that the company in its current state, is doing well.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that there are issues that must be solved before the privatisation discussion can legitimately begin, especially if the company continues to post losses.
“ECG is doing far better now than when it was under PDS and there are certain operational dynamics that if we fix today, and we realise that there are still gaps in it, that is when we can start talking about privatisation.
“The calls for privatisation are too early because if you are privatising a company, and you don’t know the total number of customers, and you give it out, you have given out a gold mine,” he noted.
Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has strongly criticized the Minority in Parliament for their recent remarks regarding the selective payment of debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
This response comes after John Abdulai Jinapor, the Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee, accused the Ministry of Finance of engaging in discriminatory payment practices towards the IPPs.
Mr Mahama has dismissed the claims and labelled them as unfair.
Allegations of selective payment
The Minority in Parliament recently accused the Ministry of Finance of engaging in “selective and discriminatory payment” to some preferred IPPs, while leaving others to their own fate.
“The Finance Minister, instead of dealing with the Chamber of IPPs, is engaged in selective and discriminatory payment, selecting some preferred IPPs, paying them, and leaving them to their own fate,” Mr Jinapor stated.
The Chamber of IPPs had earlier issued a threat to shut down all plants after July 1, 2023, due to the government’s delay in settling a $1.7 billion debt owed them by ECG.
However, it rescinded its decision after a partial payment was made to the power producers.
ECG boss defends payments
But speaking on TV3’s The Key Points regarding the Minority’s statement on selective payment, Mr Dubik Mahama fumed that it was unnecessary for the Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee to have made that statement, especially when negotiations were still underway.
“These are some of the statements that I think are so unfair because if you make this statement, it is based on what?” he asked.
“It’s like having five children and thinking that all your children are the same. All your children are not the same.
“Look at all of them across the board and look at what happens when something happens,” he noted.
Though Mr Dubik refused to divulge the details of the payments made to the various individual IPPs, he expressed worry over the probable jeopardy of the current ongoing negotiations with the IPPs, saying that “I honestly think it is not a fair statement to make because, in my candid opinion, there’s an issue.
“If we are trying to solve the issue, imagine from that statement that we walk to a meeting with the IPPs and nobody wants to talk to us at the roundtable. That’s an unfair statement. You don’t make statements like that in public.”
Background
Samuel Dubik Mahama was appointed as the new Managing Director of ECG by President Nana Akufo-Addo in May 2022. He took over from Kwame Agyeman–Budu, who retired after serving for almost three years. Prior to this appointment, Samuel Mahama was a non-executive Director at ECG. He is a legal practitioner and a graduate of the University of Ghana.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Abigail Twumwaa Ampofo
Major parts of the Esuoso community in the Tarkwa Nsuaem have been disconnected from electricity following a massive flood.
The community, which has been submerged by flood for three days now has displaced several hundreds of households.
In an interview, the Assembly Member of the Area, James Kojo Yeboah noted that “the flood started from Friday, June 23, 2023, slowly, that we never thought it could get to this level. We woke up on Sunday to see that everyone in the area has been affected by the flood”.
“We also realized that some houses have begun collapsing, so there was the need to call the ECG to disconnect the light to prevent people from being electrocuted, which can breed another disaster”.
Folks are seen parking their things on higher grounds in order to perch with family and friends.
Aside from this, the road leading to the Esuoso community has also been blocked by the flood making commuters stranded.
People moving from Tarkwa to Bonsawire or Esuoso will have to alight on the road, take a canoe and move to the other side of the road, pick “okada” (motorbike) to their destination.
One of the canoe operators said “We charge ten Ghana cedis to transport the people from one side of the flood to the other. For those who cannot afford it, we charge them ten cedis. And this is our contribution to help the people in this hard time”.
Community folks have attributed the roadblock to the minor nature of the bridges on the road.
We need the help of the government to deal with this perineal flooding of the road and our communities every year. As we speak, no car is going and coming, how can we feed our families? In fact, if they don’t do anything about this situation, we will not vote in 2024.
Parts of Esuoso community disconnected from electricity due to flood
A lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG) has allegedly been subjected to severe injuries during an armed robbery incident on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
According to a social media user, Raphael Akavani, the lecturer was attacked close to the office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) at Legon.
The robbers inflicted cutlass wounds on the hand of the lecturer and other parts of his body as they were trying to rob him.
They managed to steal the lecturer’s laptop, phones and other belongings.
A picture of the victim shared on Twitter showed that his right hand was badly injured.
A resident of Nima, Geoffrey Obuobi, has been charged with three counts, including stealing and causing unlawful damage. He has been remanded into custody by an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Bright Samuel Acquah.
The suspect was arrested on June 13, 2023, by some residents of Nima with 1×185 copper cables valued at approximately GHC 1,900.00 in his possession as he attempted to escape.
According to the prosecution, his arrest followed the rampant stealing of ECG copper cables from an ECG transformer in Nima, which often resulted in power outages in the community, prompting the service provider to replace the cables.
After his arrest, Obuobi was handed over to the Nima police and later referred to ECG for investigation.
“The complainant, Francis Quansah, is a staff member of the Electricity Company of Ghana Roman Ridge District, while the accused person, Geoffrey Obuobi, is an unemployed resident of Nima. The Accra East District of ECG has been experiencing rampant stealing of electrical cables from their transformers in Nima and its environs. On June 9, 2023, some copper cables were stolen from an ECG transformer at Nima, and they were replaced to restore electric power to their customers.
“On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the complainant and a team of technicians went to work on the same ECG transformer. After they left the site, the accused person approached the transformer with a cutter and started cutting the core cable, 1 × 185 copper. An alarm was raised, and the accused person was apprehended by people in the neighborhood with the ECG core cable, 1 × 185 copper, valued at GH¢1,900.00 in his possession as he attempted to flee,” stated the facts of the case as shared by the prosecution.
In his caution statement, Obuobi denied the offense and was arraigned before the court on Monday, June 19, 2023.
During the court proceedings on Monday, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and explained that he is a scrap dealer who happened to come across the copper cables while passing by.
The court remanded him into custody, and he is scheduled to reappear on Friday, June 30, 2023.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that it will undertake a planned maintenance in some parts of the Greater Accra Region (GAR).
The said maintenance work is to allow the power distributor to improve its service delivery.
ECG made this known in a notice sighted by The Independent Ghana.
The notice stated that the maintenance work is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.
According to the notice, areas to be affected as a result of the exercise are; Broadcasting Junction, Finney Hospital, Red Top, Adenta Medimoses, Pantang Junction, Shalom Estate, Focus Hospital, Kuottam Estate, Pantang Village, Abokobi, and Sesemi Town.
“ECG regrets the inconvenience that will arise out of this exercise,” the power distributor added.
Today, Monday, June 12, 2023, some areas in Tema, Accra may experience blackout from :00 am to 2:00 pm.
The action according to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will aid the company perform a maintenance exercise as well as improve service delivery to the residents of the impacted areas.
The areas to be affected include; Bused, GBC Training School, Kokobribri, Royal Ravico, Nungua Barrier, Alton Hotel, Regimanuel Estates, Queensland Int. School and its environs.”
The Electricity Company of Ghana also apologised to its customers for every inconvenience caused as power will be restored at 2 pm.
“ECG regrets the inconvenience that will arise out of this exercise,” the company added.
The ECG frequently conducts this maintenanceexercise to improve the quality of delivery of service to its large pool of customers.
A 33KV feeder from Aflao to Keta has been built by theElectricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to improve power delivery in the Volta Region’s southwest.
The power distribution company stringed new lines, erected poles, upgraded sections of the old lines, and installed transformers.
The acting Volta Regional General Manager, Ing. Michael Babin, said his outfit aims at promoting the growth of the local economy by ensuring stable power supply to Keta, Kedzi, Adafienu, Adina, Agavedzi, Blekusu, Vodja and surrounding communities.
“The aim to provide quality, reliable and safe electricity services to support the socio- economic growth and development of Ghana informed management’s decision to complete this project to provide convenience for our customers”, he said in an interview with myjoyoline.com.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has successfully completed the construction of a 33KV feeder that stretches from Aflao to Keta, aiming to enhance power supply in the southwestern part of the Volta Region.
As part of this project, the power distribution company has undertaken various activities including the installation of new lines, the erection of poles, the upgrade of sections of existing lines, and the installation of transformers.
Ing. Michael Babin, the acting Volta Regional General Manager, emphasized that the primary objective of these efforts is to support the local economy by ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply to communities such as Keta, Kedzi, Adafienu, Adina, Agavedzi, Blekusu, Vodja, and the surrounding areas.
“The aim to provide quality, reliable and safe electricity services to support the socio- economic growth and development of Ghana informed management’s decision to complete this project to provide convenience for our customers”, he said in an interview with myjoyoline.com.
Ing. Buabin explained that the under-listed communities experienced frequent power cuts and low voltage because they depended on supply from the Sogakope Bulk Supply Point. He added that the transmission lines also had a transformer exceeding its maximum capacity.
“These challenges led to occasional low voltage in some areas, hence the need to construct a dedicated line from the Aflao Bulk Supply Point to the Anloga Switching Station.
The benefits of the project include a reduction of system losses, improved reliability and stable power supply, operational efficiency and flexibility since the company can now supply power to the keta enclave from either Sogakope or Aflao Bulk Supply Point”, he said.
Ing. Buabin announced that the company has also undertaken a series of projects to enhance service delivery and ensure customer satisfaction.
“We are constructing a switching station at Peki and Dzrakate, a primary substation at Sokode, and an express line from Kpando to Hohoe to augment power supply in the region”, he said.
Ing. Buabin entreated the public to act as whistle blowers to guard against theft along ECG networks and illegal connection.
He reminded customers of ECG going cashless, and entreated them to use the ECG PowerApp to make prompt payments of their bills to enable the power distribution company undertake projects to enhance service delivery, which will inure to their benefit.
“We urge our customers to pay their bills by downloading the ECG PowerApp from google playstore or AppStore or pay through the shortcode *226# before our Revenue Officers visit their premises since this system enables customers to transact business with ECG anywhere or anytime. Customers can also pay at any bank.
Customers who still wish to visit the ECG office to transact any business should load the money on their mobile money wallet before going to the office since ECG Office no longer accepts cash”, he concluded.
The Electricity Company of Ghana has issued a warning against planting trees under low voltage lines as a precaution to prevent future electricity supply disruptions as Ghanaians celebrate Green Ghana Day with tree-planting activities.
The Western Regional Manager of the ECG, Engineer Emmanuel Justice Ofori while leading staff of ECG to sensitize and plant trees at the All Saint Anglican School in Takoradi said the ECG is targeting to plant 5,000 trees in the region.
He added that the public must, however, be cautious not to plant trees under the Low Voltage lines as the grown trees may disrupt the power supply when it comes in contact with the lines.
“We are advising those planting trees that we should go about planting the trees but we should be careful not to plant them directly under the lines especially the LV lines (Low Voltage lines).”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, has urged all Ghanaians and residents to actively participate in the national tree-planting exercise.
The event forms a vital component of an ambitious afforestation and reforestation agenda aimed at restoring the country’s depleted forest cover.
During the inaugural edition, the target was set at planting five million trees. However, the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants surpassed expectations, resulting in the planting of over seven million trees.
Building on this success, last year’s Green Ghana Day witnessed an even greater achievement, with over 26 million trees planted, surpassing the intended goal of 20 million.
This year, the nation aspires to plant an additional 10 million seedlings throughout the country, while nurturing the over 30 million trees planted in 2021 and 2022.
The Electricity Company of Ghana has warned customers to be wary of fraudsters who call ECG users and ask them to make payments to specific mobile money accounts in order to access ECG services.
The power operator asked customers to ensure that they go through the appropriate channels to make any form of payment to the ECG.
“Customers should please note that ECG staff do not demand payments for services through phone calls. Customers are strongly advised to personally initiate transactions through ECG POWER (Mobile App and short code*226# for all payments,” it said in a statement on May 27, 2023.
“The ECG Mobile App (ECG POWER) can be downloaded from the ECG website (https://www.ecg.com.gh), Play Store, or App Store for convenience in transacting business with ECG. Customers can also visit any ECG office for assistance to access the ECG Mobile App and other ECG services,” he added.
The Management of ECG, therefore, “urged all customers to beware of these fraudsters and report such incidents to the security agencies or the nearest ECG office to assist ECG to track and bring these fraudsters to book.”
Residents of Amakomin the Ahafo Ano South East District of the Ashanti Region have been disconnected from the national grid following a major theft of power meters in the area.
According to the residents, they now have no access to electric power after some suspected thieves invaded the community and made away with meters in the community.
Expressing concern over the issue to Faustina Adutwumaa, a student of OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies, some residents said the rate of meter theft in the community was alarming.
They disclosed that over ten meters were stolen on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, causing fear in the area.
The residents have therefore called on the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service to intervene and find a lasting solution to the problem.
“We were connected to the national grid just two years ago, and since then, those who connected power have had their meters stolen”.
“We do not know those doing this to us, but they have left us with no light in our houses, and so we want the police to investigate the situation,” one resident Mr Halidu Haruna cried out.
Residents of Denkyira Atobiase in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region has appealed to the government through the Ministry of Energy to provide a new electricity transformer to improve power supply in the area.
They said the community has been experiencing low power voltage and total darkness due to the unavailability of a reliable power supply.
“We need a new transformer to access electricity in our community, in this 21 century do we have to beg for electricity?” they lamented.
The community records various power cuts, deficit among others which was affecting the daily activities especially businesses in the area.
The provision of the transformer was necessary due to the fast-growing nature of the town and demand for supply of electricity for their business purposes.
They alleged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had refused to repair or replace their main transformer which caught fire a year ago.
In an interview with Ghanaweb, Kwame Appiah, a resident noted that a lot of their electric appliances have been destroyed due to the situation.
Describing the situation as ‘disheartening and ‘unfortunate’ he said the community had tolerated that for a year and could not bear it any longer and would hit the street soon to vent their anger on authorities if the situation was not resolved.
He pleaded to the ECG to come to their aid and help them resolve the current agony facing the community.
Thomas Oppong, the Unit Committee member noted that letters and reports made to the Assembly and other bodies had proved futile and was necessary to go further with their appeal.
He said the circumstance had resulted to nurses and teachers refusal to accept postings. Oppong disclosed that the workers run away if they realised there are no light in the community.
“Many government workers posted to serve the community have either packed out or run away after noticing the problem”, he said.
He added that thieves have taken advantage of their predicament to step up activities since the community faces total darkness.
Denkyira Atobiase community has a population of over 600 where most of the residents are engaged in farming activities.
The residents of Denkyira Atobiase in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region have made an appeal to the government, specifically through the Ministry of Energy, requesting the provision of a new electricity transformer.
Their objective is to enhance the power supply in the area, as they have been facing issues such as low power voltage and frequent blackouts due to the absence of a reliable power source.
“We need a new transformer to access electricity in our community, in this 21 century do we have to beg for electricity?” they lamented.
The community has been plagued by frequent power outages and a lack of electricity supply, causing significant disruptions to daily activities and businesses in the area.
Due to the rapid growth of the town and the increasing demand for electricity for business purposes, the provision of a new transformer has become crucial.
Residents have accused the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) of neglecting their pleas to repair or replace the main transformer that caught fire a year ago.
Kwame Appiah, a resident, expressed dismay and frustration over the situation, highlighting the damage caused to their electrical appliances.
He described the current state as disheartening and unfortunate, stating that the community had endured this issue for a year but could no longer tolerate it. He warned that if the situation remained unresolved, they would take to the streets to express their anger towards the authorities.
Appiah pleaded with the ECG to come to their aid and help resolve the community’s ongoing hardships.
Thomas Oppong, a Unit Committee member, stated that previous letters and reports submitted to the Assembly and other bodies had yielded no results, necessitating a stronger appeal.
He explained that the situation had even led to nurses and teachers rejecting job postings in the community. Oppong revealed that workers would flee once they realized there was no electricity available.
“Many government workers posted to serve the community have either packed out or run away after noticing the problem”, he said.
He added that thieves have taken advantage of their predicament to step up activities since the community faces total darkness.
Denkyira Atobiase community has a population of over 600 where most of the residents are engaged in farming activities.
In a significant breakthrough, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in collaboration with law enforcement authorities has apprehended two individuals involved in a rampant power theft operation in Adjiringanor.
The two were arrested for repeatedly restoring power illicitly after disconnection of their establishments by ECG.
The arrest was part of the company’s efforts to clamp down on the illegal connections as part of a nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise.
This is the second time in 2023 that the ECG is carrying out such an operation. The first operation spanned from March 20 to April 2023.
During the operation, ECG discovered a recurring pattern where the arrested individuals, upon being disconnected due to unpaid bills, unlawfully reconnected their establishments without seeking authorisation from ECG.
The local utility company and law enforcement agencies (significantly) jointly succeeded in dismantling an extensive network of illegal electricity connections, marking a resolute step towards combating electricity theft and ensuring fair access to power resources in the community, as the company announced that it was able to recover GHS3.1 billion from its debtors after the month long exercise.
ECG on May 23, 2023, announced the second phase of the operation.
The weeklong exercise by the country’s major power distributor will focus on recovering debts from all categories of customers, including State-Owned Enterprises.
The company has explained in a press release that the exercise will be monitored by special teams authorised to apprehend and prosecute customers who refuse to comply.
The Volta Regional Office of theElectricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun rejecting cash payments at several service centers.
This change comes as a result of a nationwide directive to implement a cashless system in all ECG offices throughout the country.
Although some customers may need time to adjust, they are optimistic that this new method will eventually provide a more convenient way of purchasing power.
After almost two years of piloting, the cashless system is fully being implemented, resulting in the cessation of cash payments at all 300 ECG offices nationwide.
The Managing Director of ECG,Samuel Dubik Mahama, stated that this move aims to enhance the efficiency of the power distribution company’s revenue collection efforts.
The company has been conducting extensive training programs for customers who are unfamiliar with the new policy.
Customers who arrive with cash are now directed to deposit the funds into their mobile money accounts before receiving any services.
Following the fulfillment of a month-long campaign that began in March and ended in April, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that it will embark on another Nationwide Revenue Mobilisation operation.
The five-day exercise will begin on Monday, May 29 and end on Friday, June 2.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 23, the company indicated that “this massive revenue mobilisation exercise will focus on all categories of customers in arrears including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and will be monitored by special teams who will apprehend and prosecute customers who attempt to interfere with the exercise, and/or undertake illegal self-reconnection after disconnection.”
The Company said pursuant to this, “ECG shall operate with a lean staff pool who will provide essential services to customers during the revenue mobilisation period to enable total participation by top management and staff.”
Meanwhile, the company says it has recovered some Gh¢3.1 billion out of the total Gh¢5.7 billion debt owned by customers in its previous revenue mobilisation drive.
Speaking at a media briefing, the Managing Director of the Company,Samuel Mahamasaid although the company has achieved significant feat, there was a lot more to be done.
“Out of the Gh¢5.7 billion ECG manage to recoup GH¢ 3.1 billion,” he said on Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Mr Mahama said despite the attempt made to recover the remaining amount, some companies were untraceable and others had collapsed.
“There were a number of companies that have collapsed that we cannot find in terms of some taking the meters and some of them not having their physical location present.
“Their total bills put together is about Gh¢750 million and the last group is people who are post-paid customers. We probably want to give them the benefit of the doubt but some of them it was true.
“There were demolishing exercises, some of them flooding so those places are no longer in existence and some of them too we just can’t find them. Their bills come up to about Gh¢750 million,” he added.
The Managing Director warned customers using power illegally to rectify or face prosecution for power theft.
Three individuals have been apprehended and brought before an Accra Circuit Court by the Mepesam branch of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The accused individuals, Perry Kumi Asamoah and Samuel Afful Kenneth, both electricians, and Isaac, who is currently evading capture, face charges of impersonation, conspiracy to commit a crime, and contravention of sections 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 29/60 and Rule 41(2)(a) of LI 1816 2005.
The arrest followed a complaint made by Esther Safo, who reported the accused to the ECG for extortion. A joint team consisting of officers from the Ghana Police Service and ECG conducted an investigation into the matter.
The investigation revealed that on January 25, 2023, the three accused individuals approached Esther Safo in her residence, claiming to be ECG personnel conducting a meter monitoring operation. They were shown to the location where the ECG meter with the serial number P18019458 had been installed.
Perry Kumi Asamoah, the first accused person, proceeded to open the meter and displayed a component to Esther Safo, alleging an illegal connection. Subsequently, the accused individuals disconnected the power supply to the complainant’s premises.
The complainant pleaded for restoration and the accused persons demanded an amount of GH¢3,000.00 from her to restore the power. The complainant informed her husband accordingly and he transferred an amount of GH¢1,500.00 to the accused persons through the first accused person’s mobile money number 0277388827 and the power was restored.
Not satisfied with the conduct of the supposed officers of ECG, the complainant reported the matter to the Revenue Protection Unit, ECG.
Following their arrest, a search conducted by the police on the two accused persons revealed two identity cards bearing their names, and photos with the serial numbers; 193955 and 193954 respectively.
Summons emanated from the ECG which appeared to be forged and one Mobile phone which contained the Tigo sim card that was used to receive the amount from the complainant’s husband.
Further checks also revealed the Barcode on the two ID cards belonged to one late Kingsley Darko, a former employee of the ECG.
Trading activities in the Kejetia Market, a significant commercial hub in the Ashanti Regional capital, have been disrupted for over a week due to a power outage.
The market owes the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) 5.4 million cedis in unpaid bills. Vendors selling perishable goods have been particularly affected since the power supply was cut off on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
The market managers argue that traders have not paid for the electricity, which hinders them from settling the outstanding debt with the ECG.
However, the traders claim that they have consistently paid their monthly dues to the market facility managers.
“After the disconnection, leadership of the traders confronted management on why we are being disconnected from the national grid. We are at a loss as to how and why the debt is so huge because every month, the management gives traders bills to pay. We have been paying the bills. But the management says otherwise,” Eric Nana Kwasi Prempeh, Chairman of the Federation of Kumasi Traders revealed.
Days after the blackout, a generator set at the facility was powered to serve as an alternative.
This was however unsustainable as the traders feared the cost of fuel would be passed on to them.
The traders are now resorting to the use of flashlights for their activities at night.
Butchery and cold store operators at the market are the worst affected, as their goods are being damaged.
A cold store operator, Ataa Papa said “For about 3 days now, my fresh meat has been going bad. They assured us of a re-connection, so we left our meat here. The next day, the lights were still off. All our meat have gone bad. It is really affecting us.”
“I sometimes tie a flashlight on my forehead, or hang it on a pole. That is not a bother. Our worry is that our meat is going bad. We have taken loans from rural banks. We buy cattle and slaughter to sell, but the blackout is making our meat get rotten. We are forced to sell our meat cheaply,”another lamented.
Others say thieves have taken advantage of the blackout to steal from traders, whereas some patrons of the market are outwitting traders with fake currencies.
“Some customers have been bringing counterfeits, because it is dark here. A counterfeit 20 cedis note was given to me last week. Traders have to be vigilant so they do not fall victim,” Theresa Boakye said.
“I just got here from Accra. This place is dark. The thieves are taking advantage of the darkness to steal. They spy on you as do your transactions” another trader said.
Trade unions at the market have asked for the speedy installation of individual meters by the Electricity Company of Ghana.
The Eastern Regional Manager of the PURC, Jude Aduamoah -Addo,has revealed that forty-eight (48) Senior High Schools in the Eastern Region owe the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) one million, two hundred and ninety-eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven cedis (Ghc1,298,867).
the Commission has received 324 complaints against GWCL and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) during the first quarter of 2023, with 311 representing a resolution percentage of 95.98%.
The 13 outstanding complaints are at various stages of resolution.274 of the 324 complaints were against ECG while 50 against GWCL.
The complaints were basically about billing, payment, poor quality of service, metering , disconnection, damaged properties and consumer service.55% of the complaints were received via various WhatsApp platforms created by PURC across the region for utility service providers ,customers and the regulator.
Complaints of disputed bills reported to PURC by three(3) customers against ECG during the period amounted to twenty-seven thousand nine hundred and sixteen Ghana cedis (27,916).
Through the intervention of the Commission, ECG passed an adjustment of twenty-seven thousand two hundred and sixty- eight Ghana cedis (27,268) leaving outstanding balance of six-hundred and Forty-Eight Ghana cedis (Ghc648) for the customers to pay.
PURC has declared 2023 the year of “operational efficiency”aimed at ensuring a balance between quality of service delivery and revenue recovery to help both providers and consumers commit to their social contracts.
Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has apologized to Ghanaians who were affected by the recent power outage.
Recently, some parts of the country especially Accra experienced power cuts.
Head of Corporate Communications at GRIDCo,Dzifa Bampoh said the situation was a result of a generational challenge that is out of the control of GRIDCo
Speaking on News 360 on TV3 Wednesday, May 10, Dzifa Bampoh said “Sincerely, we apologize for the erratic power supply that many Ghanaians may have suffered for the last couple of days.”
She added “GRIDCo is a transmitter and we are not a generator however, we do have a view of what the generation is like, that is the generation coming from our power plants whether they are hydro or they are thermal or they are solar.
“Unfortunately, there has been a shortfall in generation capacity, meaning we have not been able to generate as much power as Ghanaians demand.
“That is out of the control of GRIDCo and it is partly because we don’t have enough gas coming in to power some of these plants. That is why we had some intermittent power supply, so there is no load-shedding.
“What has happened is, on some occasions, gas supply has been low and as a result, we have had to reduce supply to ECG.”
The Electricity Company of Ghana has asked consumers using its electricity app to pay their bills to be patient with them.
The company’s Managing Director, Samuel Mahama, speaking to the press on Thursday, May 4, in Accra, admitted that the ECG is having internet connectivity problems but will soon rectify them.
“Our power app is still going through an enhancement. We are receiving traffic. I must admit, we’ve been having some internet problems from our internet service providers and we are working hard to switch to a better one or add on to it so that our service becomes dynamic.”
He, however, noted that the users can use the app to view their bills and urged them to pay their bills while the company works around the clock to address the challenges.
“On the power app now, you can actually view your bill. We are doing our best to make sure that all those whose information is on our system will be getting an estimated bill monthly until finally, we can visit your premises to give you your meter,” he said.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has promised to reward persons who report incidents of illegal connection to the company.
Members of the general public who report incidents of illegal connection in their various communities will earn 6 per cent of the total debt of the illegal connection reported.
“Citizens who report illegal connection will get 6 per cent of the amount,” the Managing Director(MD) of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, disclosed at a press conference held on Thursday, 4 May 2023.
He appealed to the public to seize the opportunity to assist the power-distributing company to recover monies owed it.
“Let’s all use this as a means to help ECG. ECG is not for one person, it is for all of us,” Mr Mahama said.
He also revealed that the ECG has so far been able to recover over GHS3.1 billion from defaulting customers over the past weeks.
The ECG recently embarked on a 1-month nationwide mobilisation exercise.
The managers of Fenice Metal Technology in the Tema region, two Chinese nationals, have been detained as a result of an underground illegal connection on Thursday, April 27.
Following an informant’s tip to Samuel Dubik Mahama, the MD of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), about the anomalies, the taskforce entered the company with representatives from the National Security.
Revenue Protection and Technical investigation manager, Ishmael Oku, per reports from Citinews said, “the facility had its separate transformer but managed to bypass the system through an underground cable to consume power without paying. Two-thirds of the power consumed goes directly without metering.”
Sources say the company is into the production of electrical cables.
“The culprits will be prosecuted, and the facility surcharged to recoup the power consumed over the period,” Ishmael Oku added.
The company has been disconnected from the national grid and served illegal connection notice to report at the ECG office.
Meanwhile, managers of Hillburi Hotel at Aburi are expected in court on Friday over similar crimes.
The ECG took a break from its national revenue mobilization exercise on April 20, 2023, to review its operations and revenue targets.
The one-month exercise uncovered several illegalities, fake meters, and recovered huge sums of debts owed to the company.
But, the revenue protection taskforce is still on the ground, checking for illegalities that are contributing to the company’s system losses.
The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, has dismissed reports that it owes the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) GHS1.2 million as the Company alleged.
According to the University Relations Office, the institution currently owes the ECG a total debt of GHS 625,138.14.
It said before the ECG began the nationwide revenue mobilization exercise on March 20, this year, to collect debts owed by its customers, they signed a special agreement with UMaT to help clear its outstanding debt which was then GHS 833, 379.38.
Per the agreement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), UMaT was expected to settle its debt in four installments, adding that, a total amount of GHS 208, 379.38 was required to be paid each month beginning from April 30 to July 31, 2023.
The task force team from the ECG in Western Region, however, failed to fulfill its part of the agreement and disconnected the University on Tuesday April 18, 2023, from the National Grid.
Although the University had made the first payment of GHS 208, 379.38 as agreed by both parties earlier, it has therefore expressed disappointment with the actions of the ECG.
Meanwhile the ECG has restored power and academic activities are ongoing smoothly.
A leaked ‘wireless message’ making rounds on social media indicates that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare instructed its regional commanders to ensure that no official of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is allowed into any police facility under their jurisdiction for inspection of electrical connections or any other activity.
A leaked police wireless message shared on Twitter by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a convener for the #FixTheCountry Movement, which contained that said order, indicated that the order was from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, and must be adhered to religiously.
It was also stated in the wireless message that a letter will be given to the ECG indicating when their officers are to visit police facilities for their inspections and other activities.
“INGPOL DIRECTS ALL REGIONAL COMMANDERS SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANY ECG OFFICIALS INTO POLICE FACILITIES WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTIONS
“A TEMPLATE LETTER OF INVITATION TO FORMALLY INVITE ECG OFFICIALS TO UNDERTAKE INSPECTION, REVIEW OF CONNECTIONS, RECTIFICATION OF IRREGULARITIES AND INSTALLATION OF BULK METRES FOLLOWS.
“DIV./DIS/UNIT COMMANDERS SHOULD ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE AND REPORT ANY SUCH CASE TO REGIONAL COMMAND IMMEDIATELY FOR REDRESS. TREAT AS URGENT,” parts of the message read.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Mahama, has indicated that the next major exercise, after his outfit’s revenue mobilisation drive, is clamping down on illegal connections in the country.
According to him, the company will be going from house to house and business to business to check for illegal connections and any entity found culpable will face the full rigours of the law, asaaseradio.com reports.
“Those who are involved in illegal connections, we’re giving you one month head start to correct it because I’m not charging you with bypass, I’m charging you with theft, you’ve stolen,” Samuel Mahama is quoted to have said on the Asaase Breakfast Show.
The ECG disconnected power to parts of the Osu Police Barracks because of an illegal connection to the national grid this April.
The task force from the ECG discovered the illegal connections on three blocks of the barracks, which had connected power directly without a meter. The illegal connections were discovered on the ECG’s usual rounds to recover monies owed by customers and disconnected.
The manager in charge of external communications at ECG, Laila Abubakarim, who was part of the team that visited the barracks, said that they had to disconnect power to the three blocks because of the illegality.
“Since it’s an illegal connection, we have the first right to disconnect before we deal with issues. The Ghana police would have to come to ECG where a bill will be generated for them covering a period of 12 months.
“The administration block also owes, but due to security implications, we’ve spared that facility while we discuss further the amount involved. We consider the police accommodation facilities (blocks) a general facility hence the disconnection,” she said.
Energy Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempehhas stated that Ghana cannot support the practice of some citizens not paying their electricity bills.
To that end, he said, he fully supports the step taken by theElectricity Company of Ghana(ECG) to retrieve funds owed the company.
The action of the ECG, he said was part of the overarching effort in ensuring that the company remained viable to deliver efficient service to consumers.
Dr. Prempeh said these when he led the ECG’s revenue protection taskforce to two companies that owed the company various sums of money.
The Minister during these two engagements bemoaned the situation where companies piled up bills for a very long time and refuse to pay.
“As a country we cannot continue to countenance the attitude of non-payment of bills, among other illegalities and expect optimal service delivery” he said.
He continued “the financial capacity of the generator, transmitter and distributor is very much anchored on prompt payment of bills, especially as we work to clamp down on all forms of losses and intra-sector debts. These 3 segments of the power value-chain are symbiotically dependent on each other and therefore we must work together to clamp down on all forms of losses.
The Manhyia South lawmaker said, there is no excuse whatsoever for the non-payment of electricity bills and drew an analogy where one cannot negotiate with OMCs to get fuel into his or her car. “When you need fuel, you cannot but pay to get it, why can’t you do same for the electricity you consume” he quizzed.
The ECG taskforce continue to mount operations to retrieve all debts owed by the company.
The Managing Director of the ECG Samuel Dubik Mahama earlier said that an amount of GHS5.7 billion was owed to the state power distributor.
He assured that the action of the company was going to be intensified to retrieve all these debts.
“Every month we will show up to collect the debts,” he intimated.
Mr Mahama said so far they are able to collect between 40 to 50 Million Cedis daily since the exercise started.
“I can each day 40 to 50 million cedis everyday, we are expecting it to go up,” he said.
The task force earlier, Monday, March 20, visited institutions such as Parliament, the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) as part of the debt recovery.
Speaking to journalists, the External Communications Manager of ECG, Laila Abubakar said “The national task force is the one that is in charge of the state-owned enterprises, the ministries, departments and agencies and so we have been going with them, we visited Parliament House, they were owing about a GHS13million they have committed to paying GHS8.5million, we saw evidence of that.
“We went to the Ghana Airport Company, they owed arrears of GHS28million of which they made GHS10 million payment instantly just when we got there so we have given them 48 hours to make the full payment.”
She added “Now, we are here at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, they also owe in arrears of about GHS6 million but they have explained to us that because of the way they run their operations they wouldn’t be able to cough out the money for us instantly, they have had some discussions with the Minister of Information and the National Media Commission together with the Ministry of Energy and there was some sort of agreement last years. However, ECG’s point is that there has not been any movement on the debt that is remaining.
“They have explained to us they have a system and they are going to get some money and pay because they have to find innovative ways of coming up with the money and so we have been giving permission to leave them for now for 48 hours.”
Homes of individuals were not excluded.
Laila Abubakar said “In Tema, we have received photos of disconnections happening in residences, we have received photos of them in some of the industries in Tema and they are being disconnected.
“I am hoping that by the end of the day, we should be able to see a lot of money coming in into our accounts.
“Our system has been digitized in such a way that by the end of the day the Managing Director will be able to see how much we have recouped from this exercise and so we will report in a timely basis how much we are making on a weekly basis.”
