ECG moves to recover debt from Kpando customers

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), yesterday embarked on a mass disconnection in Kpando Municipality of the Volta Region, to recover debt from customers.

The Kpando Municipal Assembly, Akpini FM, hotels, and households and individuals were affected by the exercise carried out by Kpando District Office of the ECG taskforce.

However, the Ghana Judicial Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Fire Service, and Ghana Prisons Service were not disconnected even though they also owed the ECG huge money.

The taskforce made up of members of Volta Power Queens Club and ECG staff undertook the disconnection exercise.

Before the exercise, a week’s notice was given to all customers, according to the Kpando District Manager of ECG, Kwame Sarfo Appiah.

The Kpando Municipal Assembly owe GH¢100,000.00 to the ECG and all its four meters were disconnected.

Earlier, the Assembly paid GH¢30,000.00 and its management pleaded for the connection of one of the meters, to enable the office function, with the promise that the remaining amount would be paid latter.

Following the request, the ECG reconnected one meter, but during yesterday’s exercise, the taskforce realised that soon after it left, the Assembly did self-reconnection of the other three meters.

The taskforce, subsequently disconnected all the Assembly’s meters again.

Speaking to journalists at Kpando after the exercise, Mr Kwame Sarfo Appiah, Kpando District Manager of ECG, noted that the objective of the exercise “is to make sure that we collect monies owed the company from 2021 that is becoming huge.”

He said electricity is important for socio-economic development and job creation, “and users should pay their bills promptly to enable ECG ensure sustainable power supply.”

Mr Appiah reminded customers that it is an offence to do self-reconnection after ECG has disconnected electricity.

He commended Power Queens and ECG staff for supporting efforts in realising the company’s vision of improving its financial situation.

Ms Patience Amuzu, Volta Regional President of Power Queens, said that “the exercise has been successful, looking at how consumers were rushing to pay their bills, including those whose power was disconnected.”

She said that the ECG needed to develop strategies to generate more revenue to reduce borrowing to finance its activities.