ECG disconnect power to Amansie South DCE’s house

As part of its revenue mobilization drive, the Electricity Company of Ghana has cut off power to the residence of the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Amansie South District in the Ashanti Region. The DCE’s residence was among a number of private homes and institutions taken off the national grid for their indebtedness to ECG.

When the ECG Revenue Protection Taskforce visited at the residence 3:42 PM, there were about four floodlights which were left on.

Apart from disconnecting power to the residence, the task force led by David Boadi Asamoah, the Ashanti Regional Director of the company also took away some cables which were reportedly used for illegal connections.

Speaking to Luv Fm according to a JoyNews report, the leader of the task force said he disconnected the political appointee’s residence despite they being friends. He said, “As a professional, you need to distinguish friendship from professionalism… We are only helping him do the right thing”.

Background of the ECG Revenue Mobilization

The Electricity Company of Ghana embarked on a revenue mobilization exercise which started on March 20 and will end on April 20, 2023. The exercise is part of a drive to recover GHS5.7 billion owed to the company by institutions and individuals.

Since the start of the exercise, the company has disconnected notable institutions such as some branches of the Ghana Post, KFC, GRA Office, Ho Airport and the CEPS Training School all in the Volta Region. They also disconnected the Osu Police Barracks from the national grid.

Meanwhile, institutions such as Ghana’s Parliament and the Kotoka International Airport paid part of the arrears to avoid disconnection. Others such as West Africa’s leading steel manufacturer, B5 Plus had to also settle millions of Ghana Cedis to be spared. Also, the state broadcaster GBC has pledged to settle its arrears in the coming weeks to avoid disconnection.

Leading the charge for the disconnection is the Managing Director of ECG  Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama who said he is doing his job as a technocrat and not a political appointee. He said he has received calls to halt the exercise but he won’t stop because ECG needs saving.

“I keep receiving threatening calls, but why will you call to threaten me, when you know what is right? I am not afraid. People threatening me on behalf of others should rather encourage defaulting customers to pay their debts,” Mr Mahama said about people threatening him due to the exercise.