The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun a rigorous revenue mobilization exercise aimed at collecting a staggering GH¢92 million from its customers in the Ashanti region.
Samuel Boaky-Appiah, Director for Network and Research, ECG, told BUSINESS GUIDE that the debt collection exercise has become necessary due to the refusal of the customers to pay their bills.
He explained that ECG, as part of the exercise, would employ dialogue, disconnection and prosecution of customers that would be found culpable of engaging in crime.
The ECG boss said about 500 people, who indulge in illegality in relation to power usage, had been sent to court for prosecution from October to date, adding that such people usually pay the bills for fear of being incarcerated.
Mr. Boakye-Appiah noted that a special taskforce had been formed by the ECG to collect all debts from customers in the Ashanti West and East Regions, stressing that the exercise would be sustained to retrieve all monies from customers.
He said that the debt collection exercise was being undertaken to help the power supply company to effectively meet the needs of its numerous customers in the Ashanti region.
The ECG chief added that the huge debt is being collected so that the company would be well resourced to remain in business to meet its operational cost and maintain the machines.
He said the current load-shedding exercise in the country is adversely affecting the performance and longevity of ECG’s machines, hence the need for the ECG to raise more funds to keep its machines in good shape.
Disconnections
Mr. Boakye-Appiah disclosed that even though the ECG used dialogue to collect the huge debts owed the company, most of the customers, notably, companies, who use huge amount of power, were refusing to pay their bills.
This weird behavior of refusing to settle the accumulated debts by these companies, who are classified by the ECG as ‘Special Load Tariff,’ forced ECG to disconnect them from the national grid, he said.
The affected companies include KAS Products who owe GH¢239,414.14, Fabi Timbers, GH¢513,748.80, Fares Timbers, GH¢65,786.95, Jolly World Cool, GH¢39,060.21 and Naachia Quarry, GH¢104,681.05.
The rest are Caesar Iyayi, GH¢86,399.31, Adu-2 Stone Quarry, GH¢96,206.32, Jerusalem Agric GH¢30,213.03, DAS Continental Farm, GH¢19,861.90, Brosa Minerals, GH¢67,053.44 and Kumasi Wood Estate, GH¢20,776.83.
Warning
Mr. Boakye-Appiah sternly cautioned people, who reconnect to the national grid after the disconnection exercise by the ECG, saying “it is a criminal act to do self-reconnection.”
If members of the public want the ECG to offer them quality services, then they should always pay their bills; the power crisis would not stop if the people refuse to pay their bills, he said.
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