A Commissioner at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and Executive Director of the Kumasi Institute of Technology & Environment (KITE), Ishmael Edjekumhene, has clarified that the commission will not benefit from the GH₵5,868,000 fine imposed on the board members of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Speaking on JoyNews' Top Story, Mr Edjekumhene emphasized that the amount is to be paid into a dedicated fuel account jointly controlled by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance by May 30, 2024. He underscored that PURC is not a signatory to the account, hence the commission will not benefit directly from the fine.
The fine was levied on the board members of ECG who served in office from January 1 to March 18, 2024, for overseeing power outages without notifying consumers between January and March this year. Notable figures included in the fine are the ECG MD, Samuel Mahama Dubik, and eight others. However, Herbert Krapah, the current Deputy Energy Minister and board chair, will not be affected as his tenure falls outside the specified period.
Keli Gadzekpo, who resigned as board chairman three weeks prior, will be impacted by the fine, alongside Chief Whip Frank Annor Dompreh and five other individuals.
In response to ECG's claim regarding the causes of power outages, including overloaded transformers and unplanned demands from GRIDCo, Mr Edjekumhene highlighted that providing false information to the regulator constitutes one of the infractions leading to the penalty. He clarified that the penalty is part of the sanctions imposed on ECG and its board for their actions.
