The ongoing discord between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region and Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah shows no signs of abating, as the power distributor stands firm against perceived mistreatment by the Minister.
Bismark Adomah, National Vice Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, declared on JoyFM's Top Story on April 25 that ECG would not comply with any summons from Osei-Mensah until an apology is issued for the treatment of their area manager. Adomah underscored the association's rejection of an invitation to a meeting called by the Minister, citing unresolved grievances.
The rift stems from a recent altercation wherein an ECG regional manager was arrested for disconnecting electricity to the Kumasi Technical University, an action prompted by the university's outstanding debt of GH₵600,000. Osei-Mensah reported the Ashanti East General Manager, Ing. Michael Wiafe, to the police for his refusal to restore power supply to the university.
ECG staff demand an apology for what they perceive as an abuse of power and the withdrawal of the case against Ing. Wiafe. However, Osei-Mensah has stood his ground, asserting that he was merely fulfilling his duties and rejecting the notion of being taught by ECG how to perform them.
Osei-Mensah maintains that the university had agreed to settle their debt within an agreed time-frame, justifying his actions as a response to the breach of this agreement by ECG management.
Adomah criticized Osei-Mensah's alleged demand for permission before ECG embarks on revenue mobilization exercises, deeming it unacceptable. He highlighted the swift payment made by the university following the power disconnection and questioned the Minister's stance on the matter.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Senior Staff Association is set to convene to determine their next steps in response to the ongoing conflict. Despite the discord, Adomah affirmed ECG's commitment to customer satisfaction in the Ashanti region.
The standoff underscores the tension between governmental authority and public service providers, raising concerns about accountability and due process in utility management.
