The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on Tuesday this week, issued a press statement to inform the public that the government of Ghana does not owe it anymore. According to the statement, between 2017 and 2019, the government paid averagely GH¢2 billion directly to ECG’s suppliers – Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO), Independent Power Producers (IPPs) – to defray its indebtedness.
The statement further said after making this huge payment, the government now has a credit balance of GH¢505million, which would be used to settle government bills from January to April this year.
In addition to this payment, the ECG statement further said the government had also paid a whopping GH¢4.14 billion directly to fuel suppliers and power producers, which is yet to be credited to the state’s account.
After the settlement of accounts, the government is going to be credited with the differences, which can also be used to settle future indebtedness. On the basis of these payments, The Chronicle is unable to fathom why most of our street lights are not functioning, or simply put, are not lit during the night.
Though the state is not responsible for the payment of street lights bills, we believe the huge payment the ECG has received should be enough to cushion it to restore the normal street lighting system.
The last time we commented on the failure of the street lights to come on at the night, the feedback we got was that the street light levy consumers were paying was not enough to cover the cost of power consumed.
On the basis of this, the ECG sometimes put off some of the street lights to save money. The ECG has taken this decision because of pressure from the power producers which think the tariffs are low.
Looking at the criminal activities going on, and the election 2020, which is going to increase tension in the country, The Chronicle thinks it is very dangerous to keep our streets in the dark, especially when people are committing all manner of crimes under the cover of darkness.
In a nutshell, the absence of street lights is a national security issue that must not be joked with.
The Chronicle is, therefore, appealing to the ECG, and indeed, all the power producers to soften their stance on the low tariffs they claim consumers are paying, and supply constant power for our street lights.
Though the non-payment of electricity bills by consumers, not forgetting illegal connections, is having a toll on the operations of the ECG and all the power producers, we insist the payment they have received from the government should cushion them.
But, if the ECG and its partners insist that tariffs on street lights are low, then we suggest to the government to take up the responsibility of paying up the additional money every month for the ECG to light our street lights in the larger interest of the state.
The Tetteh Quarshie Interchange through the Legon-Madina-Adenta-Aburi road we believe was turned into first class road because of the Peduase Lodge, where foreign dignitaries are hosted.
Regrettably, such a major road and other equally important roads in Accra, and indeed throughout the country, are always in the dark, making driving on them very difficult.
This, we believe, is an attack on the image of a country that claims to be the gateway to Africa. We hope the ministries of Energy and National Security will do a thorough analysis of these issues we have raised, and seek the intervention of the government to ensure the peace and stability of our dear nation.
The post Editorial: Gov’t has settled ECG indebtedness, yet our streets lights are not lit? appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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