Business News of Thursday, 23 March 2023

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Power brokers, politicians, others calling me to stop disconnection exercise - ECG MD

Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Samuel Dubik Mahama Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Samuel Dubik Mahama

Following the closure of all offices to embark on a nationwide disconnection exercise to retrieve its debts from individuals and private, and public institutions, the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Samuel Dubik Mahama, has said some persons are unhappy about the situation.

According to him, he has received calls from some people including politicians, friends, and power brokers, among others to abruptly end the exercise.

He said all the calls that come through the end with “can you hold [disconnection exercise] off?”

Making this known on JoyNews’ PM Express and monitored by GhanaWeb on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Mr Mahama wondered how his outfit will settle its outstanding debts owed Independent Power Producers (IPP), VRA, GRIDCo if it doesn’t retrieve unpaid debts from its clients.

He noted that the power distribution company risks shutting down if it doesn’t settle the $1 billion debt owed to some IPPs.

“How do we pay the Independent Power Producers? How do we pay GRIDCo? How do we pay VRA? It is a shared responsibility,” the Managing Director of ECG stated.

He added that “Please let’s just do the right thing because I don’t even have the moral right after sending somebody out of the office to pick up the phone and call him and say ‘hello, can you cut X, Y and Z slack? No’ then what is the moral of the exercise?”’

The ECG embarked on a nationwide disconnection exercise on Monday, March 20, 2023.

The exercise, which is expected to end on April 20, 2023, aims at retrieving GH¢5.7 billion debt from its debtors.

Meanwhile, Mr Mahama has indicated that all payments should be made through mobile money transfers or pay-in slips at the bank.

He stressed that ECG will not accept cash or cheques during the exercise.



Watch the latest edition of BizTech and Biz Headlines below:







Watch the latest edition of Business Moments below:





ESA/FNOQ