Ghana's premier university to be thrown into darkness for non-payment of bills

Accra (Greater Accra), 8th June 99 -

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has threatened to cut off power supply to the University of Ghana on June 17 for non-payment of bills.

Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said this when the Rector of the UN University, Prof. Has Van Ginkel, paid a courtesy call on him on Monday.

He said a letter to that effect has been received from the ECG, saying the disconnection will take place by 1000 hours on June 17.

The University's outstanding bill as at April this year is 1,119,084,996 Cedis, according to the ECG.

Prof Addae-Mensah said the increase in utility tariffs has pushed electricity bills from an average of 50 million cedis a month to 220 million cedis a month.

He said students will be writing their examinations at the threatened time the disconnection exercise will be carried out.

He said although the approved budget for utilities is 186 million cedis a month, the university has since January not received its subvention from the government.

GRi?/