K-Poly shuts down over bills

The Electricity Company of Ghana has cut power supply to Kumasi Polytechnic due to an accumulated debt of GHc 3 million.

Power supply was reportedly cut to the administration block first and later extended to other offices of the polytechnic when authorities of the school refused to pay the debt.

The cut in power supply which has lasted for 14 days now is said to be having adverse effects on academic work. Both lecturers and students are said to be struggling due to the power cut.

Erasmus Kyere-Baidoo, Public Relations Manager, Ashanti Regional ECG, said since the accumulation of the debt in January 2014 till date, the polytechnic had shown no sign to pay.

He bemoaned that all attempts by the ECG, including dialogue to get Kumasi Polytechnic authorities to service the huge debt had so far failed to yield any positive results.

Mr Kyere-Baidoo said it is the responsibility of the ECG to ensure that customers paid for power that they have used, hinting that the cut in power supply is to stop further increase of the debt.

He said the ECG would not hesitate to restore power supply if the authorities of the polytechnic produce a committed payment plan for servicing to the debt to the ECG.

Acting Registrar of Kumasi Polytechnic, Mr Annan, who was speaking on Nhyira FM, bemoaned the devastating effects of the power cut on the school, saying, “We shall present our payment plan to ECG soon.”