The Minority in Parliament has said a decision by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to move its offices from the Krobo areas to newly-opened Juapong offices in the Volta Region is unfortunate because it has plunged some communities into darkness.
ECG took the decision following skirmishes and agitations led by some youth groups in Yilo and Manya Krobo against the power distribution company.
On Monday, November 22, the United Krobo Foundation led a demonstration over accumulated debt, threatening the company to pack out of Kroboland if the debt cannot be retired completely.
Afraid for its properties and staff, ECG has begun a process to pack out of communities within the Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities resulting in the non-availability of electricity in the area.
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Wading into the matter, the Minority in Parliament said while it acknowledges the need to safeguard and protect the networks, lives and properties of the ECG and its staff, it is untenable to subject innocent people to what it calls “collective punishments”.
“This unfortunate situation has resulted in untold hardship which has the potential of affecting security and the very survival of the inhabitants within the affected communities,” the Minority said in a statement.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs also urged the ECG to restore power to the affected communities immediately and appealed to the chiefs and people to ensure the safety of the ECG staff.
Read the full statement by the Minority below.
MINORITY CALLS FOR RESTORATION OF POWER TO KROBOLAND
The Minority in Parliament has noted with grave concern the decision by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to shut-down the feeders at the Bulk Supply Point (BSP) directly feeding the Communities within the Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities plunging the affected areas into darkness since Monday, December 6, 2021.
Whilst acknowledging the need to safe-guard and protect the networks, lives and properties of the ECG and its staff, we believe strongly that it is untenable to subject innocent people to such collective punishments. This unfortunate situation has resulted in untold hardship which has the potential of affecting security and the very survival of the inhabitants within the affected communities.
Given the circumstances, we wish to call on all stakeholders particularly the Ministry of Energy to intervene as a matter of urgency and promote dialogue towards resolving the impasse.
We equally wish to call on the ECG to restore power to the affected communities immediately whilst appealing to the chiefs and people to ensure the safety of the ECG staff.
Signed,
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor
Ranking member- Mines and Energy,
MP for Yapei-Kusawgu.