ECG why?

For the past few days Ghanaians have been subjected to inexplicable and extremely rampant power-cuts which explanation can only be given by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Indeed we are all aware that the country is currently grappling with an energy crisis. And we believe it is for that reason that the ECG came out with a load management/shedding time-table where power is being rationed for Ghanaians, whilst a solution is found to the problem.

It however appears from what Ghanaians are currently experiencing that the prepared load shedding time-table has been thrown out of gear and relegated to the background. To say the least, what Ghanaian residents across the country are experiencing is simply chaotic and unacceptable!

The question we at Today ask is: Why has the ECG abandoned its load shedding time-table and why are the reasons, if any, not communicated to consumers? In fact, for us at Today we are not at all surprised that the ECG is being investigated by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), following several and increased complaints from across the country. We hope this investigation will be completed early enough to ascertain what the real challenges are, because for now it looks as if somebody is being economical with the truth. We on Today also believe that ECG owes Ghanaians an explanation with what is happening and whether the load shedding programme is working. ECG must understand that the services they render are not free: Ghanaian consumers pay. Therefore, it is important they communicate to Ghanaians what the problem is on the ground. AS of now we cannot even say we are still going by the load shedding plan because that is not being executed as planned by the ECG. Additionally, we also think that the ECG needs to compensate Ghanaians for the damage they have caused. Elsewhere in the world people would have taken legal action against the ECG. But that is not to mean that they (ECG) should take us for granted and do things at their whims and caprices.

Today is not happy at the kind of treatment meted to consumers by the ECG. It is against this backdrop that we are urging the utility service company to be up and doing. Even before the country was hit by the power crisis, there were several parts of the country that were constantly having power-cuts. Could this also be attributed to the energy crisis?

It is our hope that a lasting solution is found to this yearly energy problem, especially where we have been told by government to brace ourselves for another one month.

We believe that when that is done it will save us all from the attendant effects of power-cuts.