Energy Expert, Mr Kojo Poku has said that the whole of Ghana is behind the management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the attempt to retrieve the debt owed by residents of Manya and Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region.
Mr Poku said ECG must collect all the debts.
If they succumb to the pressure from the residents and fail to collect the debt, it will lead to lawlessness in the country, a situation Ghanaians don’t want, he said.
“You accept to take prepaid meter, you turn the lights on, simple. The whole Ghana supports ECG, imagine the people of Tema saying we won’t pay duties because we gave our lands to Nkrumah to build the port.
“If ECG gives in to these people and they don’t take the money, do you know the signal it sends to others? It will lead to lawlessness and we don’t want lawlessness,” Mr Poku said on the New Day show with Johnnie Hughes on Friday August 12.
The Managing Director of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama earlier revealed that the total outstanding debt owed by residents of Yilo and Manya Krobo is ¢168million.
He urged the community members to calm down and find ways to settle this debt after describing the situation as sad.
“ECG buys the power from independent power producers and sells the power. The total outstanding debt in Yilo Krobo and Manya Krobo is totaling ¢168million. So it is safe to say that you and I are paying for that.
“It is very sad what is going on and they are a community, all they have to do is to come together and let us find a lasting solution today,” he told TV3’s Alfred Ocansey in interview on the Ghana Tonight show Wednesday August 10.
ECG cut power supply to the areas following destruction of its properties and also physical attacks on its staff. The situation led to some unidentified persons to destroy Electric Power pole at Okwenya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality.
The Assembly Man for the Okwenya electoral area Seth Tetteh, who confirmed the incident said “Our community was not affected by the cut off by the ECG in the two Krobo Municipalities; Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo Municipalities, even though we are part of Yilo Krobo.
“[But] we experienced light out around 11:30pm Thursday night ,we felt it was a usual light off. Only to wake up to find one electric power pole cut down, with a chain saw guess.”
Mr Tetteh further explained that officials from the ECG and the Military were at the Okwenya community to asses the Power pole.
“The ECG manager and some Military personnel came to check the Power pole, they promised us that the Police will be in our community. We pray they come to fix the pole for us,” he said.
The damaged electric pole was part of a host of Power poles that connect electricity from Akuse to Aseseaso and help in pumping water to the Water Station at AKorley.
ECG Boss Mr Mahama further said the damaged poles have been restored.
He said “Electric pole was cut down. The truth of the matter is that electricity is a grid, it is a loop, so you don’t think that because you have seen a straight line, that is the line that goes to other side and it doesn’t go to the other side.
“The line was cut down and group of military men and my staff went there and they have replaced that line. Conversations are still ongoing for us all to do the right thing and to restore power to the area.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana