Don’t blame us- ECG

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has called on Ghanaians to bear with it in the wake of the ongoing load-shedding exercise.

ECG also pleaded with its numerous clients to be decorous and stop blaming the company for the current crisis.

Speaking at a press soiree in Koforidua, the General Manager of Public Relations at ECG, William Boateng explained that his outfit distributes power and does not generate the power.

He said if GRIDCO and VRA do not generate power for distribution, ECG would remain handicapped.

“The insults sometimes hurled at ECG are without justification.

Mr Boateng said due to the erratic power supply, customers who use postpaid metres were unwilling to pay their bills.

He noted that about 60 to 65 percent of power is distributed on credit and lauded government for taking bold steps to ensure that state institutions pay for the power they consume.

The General Manager explained that some key institutions like hospital, military camps and several others like Ghana Water Company are mostly exempted due to the essential services they provide.

He denied reports that the ECG was being selective in the distribution of power.

The University of Ghana, Legon owes so much, and a survey conducted recently showed over 1,000 private businesses operating on the Legon campus use the school’s electricity supply for free.

ECG, according to him, was working to seal all leakages.

Koforidua Polytechnic is one of the institutions owing ECG huge amounts of money.

The media, Mr Boateng said, must give ECG fair coverage and stop the insults from the public.

He explained that prepaid services are not available throughout the country due to lack of internet connectivity.

Mr Boateng urged the public to report persons charging exorbitant fees for the ECG metres to the police.

The Regional Manager of ECG, George Appiah- Kubi, called for cooperation with the media to educate the public on the operations of ECG.

He encouraged media practitioners to offer a fair and balanced platform for the ECG to explain issues to the public.

Mr Appiah-Kubi was not happy that ECG had been at the receiving end of public attacks in relation to the load-shedding, saying the power generating companies are to blame.