A staff member of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) reportedly lost a tooth during a sudden attack by angry residents at Akyem Pankese in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Residents of Akyem Pankese have accused the ECG of issuing outrageously high bills amidst intermittent power outage ,leading to widespread reluctance to settle their dues.
This discontent escalated as attempts by the ECG to enforce disconnections were met with hostility from the community members.
Witnesses reported instances of physical aggression against ECG workers, including being hit on the head and dragged from ladders, resulting in the loss of a tooth.
“The bills they are presenting to us here are outrageous. Some are paying as high as GHC8,800. You switch the power off haphazardly, then you’ve come here to remove our fuse. What wrong have you done?” lamented one angry youth.
Another resident expressed concern about the impact on businesses, stating, “My mother has a cold store, so removing the fuse away; do you want the fish and meat in the refrigerator to spoil? Someone’s meter has been faulty for six months, yet he has been given a bill of GHC9,000.”
According to Mr. Eric Boafo, the Unit Committee Chairman for Akyem Pankese, tensions peaked on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, when ECG staff attempted to remove fuses from the community’s transformer to disconnect the entire area.
However, their actions were resisted by residents, leading to clashes with the youth.
Some of the residents were holding clubs and machetes, threatening to lynch the ECG staff. They blocked the road and held the staff ransom in the community.
After hours of hostile standoff and threats, ECG staff were forced to restore the fuse into the transformer due to the intense resistance from residents.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
