ECG Boss Buys ?850m Car Ahead of Retirement

TONGUES ARE wagging against the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Stephen Akuaku, by a section of the workers, for hanging on to his position, though he is long past retirement age.

The managing director was supposed to have retired last October. Also he is being accused of being a visionless leader who had bought ?850 million car for his comfort at time the company needed money to improve on its customers' service.

But, head of the Public Relations Department, Gloria B.Dua-Sakyi, told The Chronicle on Wednesday that Mr. Akuaku was on contract.

This was after these reporters had tried to talk to the director himself on issues had failed.

The workers, who are already poised for strike action for non- payment of salary arrears since last year; the paper gathered, wanted the MD out.

For instance, Western and Central regions are currently sharing one Customer Billing Information Service (CBIS), which according to the paper's investigations cost a little over ?1 billion.

Without this computer, the billing process becomes very difficult.

The aggrieved workers were of the view that Mr. Akuaku has a misplaced priority because he had chosen to ride in a posh car rather than to improve the service of the company.

Although one is not clear about the policy of the company, it is assumed that most of the managing directors spent huge sums of money on posh cars when they are about to retire with the view to taking them home.

This emerging situation where managing directors and chief executive officers of public enterprises in the country went home with mouthwatering packages at the expense of workers has prompted the Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary, Mr Kwasi Adu Amankwah, who expressed concern about it during May Day celebration.

Former managing directors like M.B. Adam and Fred Asante took along their official vehicles when they were going on retirement, while its is speculated that Mr Akuaku is likely to follow their steps.

According to the paper's investigations, it was only Dr. Annan, described by the workers as visionary manager, who went home without his official vehicle.

He used one of the company's pajeros as his official vehicle and left it when he was asked to proceed on leave.

As one civil servant puts it, "it is politicians and managers who are milking the country to the bone."