Krobos in Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities in the Eastern region are demanding direct power supply from Volta River Authority (VRA) instead of the Electricity Company of Ghana.
According to them, the Construction of Akosombo and Akuse Dams displaced their ancestors and deprived them of their livelihood but were not compensated therefore it is insensitive for VRA not to serve them with power as being done in other Communities in Asuogyaman District.
As a result, the United Krobo Foundation, a group championing this agenda over the years, organized a massive demonstration on Monday, November 22, 2021, against plans by the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, to introduce prepaid meters in Somanya, Odumase, and its environs.
The group said residents in the Krobo area can no longer be under the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for power supply.
Convener of the group, Nathan Boryou told the media that, ECG must first scrap all outstanding arrears of customers created due to the issue of overbilling in the Krobo area.
“The ECG as an Institution was not able to resolve the problem of their customers within Krobo area . The grievances of customers are so agitating that more problems may occur in days ahead”.
The group is therefore demanding that “prepaid metering within the Krobo states must stop immediately”
The group had earlier demanded that the entire Krobo enclave access free direct power supply from Volta River Authority (VRA) as part of the social responsibility of the Authority for disposing Krobos from their land for the construction of the Kpong Dam.
“Krobos were not paid compensation when Akosombo and Kpong dams were constructed, meanwhile the VRA Resettlement fund is also not being utilized to the benefit of the affected Communities hence must be investigated” the group demanded.
The impasse between Krobos and ECG led to deadly clashes between residents and police resulting in the shooting of protestors which two died while at least five sustained gunshot wounds in May 2019. A female Junior High School student who was among the Victims had her leg amputated while a footballer has been paralyzed as a result of the injury.
United Krobo Foundation has warmed that, failure by the state to investigate and sanction culprits of the shooting incident will remain unpardonable agony among Krobos.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
