I can’t bear the cost of your electricity bills - ECG MD to Krobos

The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama, has told residents of Lower and Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region to be willing to pay for the power they are consuming, saying, he cannot pay for their electricity bills.

Consumers in the area have consumed power to the tune of Gh¢168 million (US$19,622,400 )  for a period of five years without payment.

Led by the United Krobo Foundation, the residents held series of street protests, claiming they were promised free electricity some years ago the by Volta River Authority when the Akosombo Hydro-Electric Power dam was being constructed.

This claim, however, had been shot down by both VRA and the Krobo Traditional Council.

ECG has held series of stakeholders’ engagement in a bid to resolve the impasse by giving the consumers in the Kroboland a period of five years to pay their outstanding debts.

Recently, ECG started the installation of pre-payment meters in the area under the  supervision of the military in a bid to curtail continuous accumulation of electricity bills by the residents.

While some have embraced the installation of the pre-payment meters, others are still kicking against it.

Speaking to a section of journalists in Accra, Wednesday, the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Mahama, said the Krobos’ decision not to pay bills cannot continue to overburden the company and the rest of the population.

According to the ECG MD, ongoing pre-paid meter installations are the only option for the company to recover cost and reduce losses.

“The only reason anyone will refuse the pre-paid meter installation is that the person doesn’t want to pay bills. I can’t pay that bill for them and I know other citizens are also not ready,” he added.