MINISTER WARNS OF DRASTIC MEARSURES AGAINST CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Mr.. Fred Ohene Kena has warned employees of the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, that anyone caught involved in fraudulent deals or malpractices to the detriment of the Company will face outright dismissal. He gave the warning when he visited the Ashanti Region Offices of the Company in Kumasi. The visit forms part of a familiarisation tour of some institutions under the Energy sector in Ashanti. Mr.. Ohene-Kena said customers are refusing to settle their debts to the Company because of alleged malpractices such a illegal connection and embezzlement of funds by some workers of the Company. These he said have given the ECG a bad public image. He therefore urged the workers and the public to be vigilant and expose workers involved in such malpractices. Mr., Ohene-Kena also visited the Solar Laboratories at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to assess the progress of work. The project was established to enhance the capacity to meet the energy needs of rural communities. The Centre has designed and installed photoroltic systems for lighting, battery charging and for operation of radio and television. It has also developed high and low voltage lamps, which can be substituted for Kerosene lanterns. The Minister was briefed on the Industrial Energy Assessment Centre, also at the University, which is to be commissioned next month. The Centre will train students in industry energy conservation in waste management. End