Gov’t-Labour to conclude discussions on Wednesday

Government has directed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to rectify all anomalies that had plunged the energy sector into confusion since the implementation of new tariffs on the electricity.

"Government has directed the ECG to solve the problems that have emanated from the implementation of the new tariffs within 14 days."

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations who announced this during a meeting between the government negotiating team and Organised Labour at the Flagstaff House, Kanda on Tuesday said the directive is to restore the confidence of consumers in the utility company.

The meeting that was supposed to be concluded on Tuesday was however pushed to Wednesday to enable the stakeholders to fine-tune their positions for amicable agreement.

The Employment Minister said government had agreed to cushion the industrial sector with some reliefs, but the announcement and implementation of the package would hinge on how soon the Association of Ghana Industries would present their proposals.

On the lifeline consumers of electricity, Mr Iddrisu said government had agreed to cushion them but have not yet come out with the modalities of how it would be implemented.

He gave the assurance that everything concerning their agreements would be spelt out by the close of January 27.

Mr Robert Dwamena, Acting Managing Director of the ECG explained that his outfit had so far paid back in excess of GH? 3 million to consumers whose credits are mistakenly deducted in respect of the credit they buy.

He gave the assurance that steps would be taken to rectify the problems to put an end the furore that had been generated by consumers since the implementation of the tariffs.