The Managing director of Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama on Thursday, September 1, 2022, led management to pay a working visit to Yilo and Manya Krobo to assess the progress of the prepaid meter installation exercise and the condition of ECG installations in the enclave.
This is the first time the new MD is visiting the area in the heat of the renewed feud between ECG and residents in the Krobo area over the replacement of postpaid meters with Prepaid.
Addressing the media, before the commencement of the working visit Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama said ECG is within the range of 9,000 prepaid meter installation despite the resistance it has faced hoping the company gets maximum cooperation to complete the exercise.
“With the meter replacement, the exercise has gone on for a while, there have been issues here and there and as management, we saw it fit to come to have an inspection about what has gone on so far. Have a fair idea of what is happening on the ground, see some of our installations, have a chat with our staff and know their difficulty, and understand what needs to be done going forward. We can say that quite a good number have been welcoming of our effort and we are well within the 9,000 mark of prepaid meter installation” the MD said.
Responding to calls for the withdrawal of the military to de-escalate tension in the community, the MDC said the military are engineers helping the installation exercise therefore their presence is for a purpose however further engagements and consensus could be reached for the way forward”.
“I am using Engineers from the Engineers Regiment. I needed a certain number of Engineers to roll out this program and finish it in good time that is why the military was involved. The exercise is still ongoing as you said it is a conversation and at the right time when consensus is reached everything will be done right. Let’s not forget we don’t have the best of working relationship so the security of the staff is paramount. Don’t forget they are also peoples fathers, peoples mothers, peoples cousins, Nephews and all that so we are taking our time and at the right time when consensus is reached we will all agree on the way forward”.
The ECG MD assured customers of ECG in the Krobo area that enough prepaid sale points will be made available in the communities in partnership with the private sector to address their concerns.
He reiterated ECG’s commitment to serving its customers in the Krobo enclave with quality service.
The impasse between ECG and Krobo residents has existed for many years and led to deadly clashes.
It was fundamentally caused by overbilling however, ECG says it has ring-fenced 2014 to 2017 debt whilst instituting a five-year moratorium for the payment of the debt owed to the company from 2017 to 2021.
ECG plans to permanently resolve the billing issues with the introduction of prepaid meters in the Krobo area on June 14, 2022, however, met with resistance from a section of the residents and sub-chiefs.
The standoff and tampering of transformers forced ECG to cut the power supply to Yilo and Manya Krobo municipalities on July 27, 2022.
However, power was restored on August 19, 2022, with the exclusion of the Nuaso community. The military subsequently invaded the community and brutalized residents over alleged provocative attacks and obstruction.
The MD of ECG, Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama on Thursday said, ECG will no longer cut off power to the entering municipalities, and that if such a decision would be taken it will be a community-based power cut.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com
