The Mines and Energy Committee member of Parliament, Edward Bawa, has expressed skepticism regarding the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) complying with the directives issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
The PURC has set a deadline of March 27 for the ECG to publish a load management timetable and fulfil other demands.
One of the directives required the ECG to settle all power producers under the waterfall cash mechanism by March 25, a deadline that has already passed.
Additionally, the PURC has mandated the ECG to submit a comprehensive report on tariff revenue allocation, regulatory audit data, and operational matters by April 2, 2024.
Edward Bawa criticised the ECG’s management for disrespecting Parliament and the Ghanaian public, highlighting the ECG’s refusal to appear before the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament.
“ECG refused to appear before the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament. Just in line with how this government operates, ECG had the arrogance to look in the face of Parliament and refused to come.
“As a Minority, we have made our case… that was on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the House went on break. But some of us have said that when we come back to Parliament, we are going to cite ECG for contempt. You cannot look in the faces of the people’s representatives and say ‘to hell with you’.
“For Mahama to do what he is doing, it is because he is backed by very powerful people and unless we accept that there is a problem, we cannot address it. We have a very irresponsible government who has also appointed a very indisciplined, and to some extent a disrespectful management led by the board chairman Keli Gadzekpo and the Chief Executive Officer Dubik Mahama, who simply cannot care about the consumer as long as everyday they get whatever they want in life,” Edward Bawa stated.
He indicated the intention to pursue a contempt citation against the ECG upon Parliament’s return, emphasising the need for accountability and responsibility from the ECG’s leadership.
On the other hand, Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh opposed the release of a load-shedding timetable, describing it as wishing harm upon the country.
“Let those who want the timetable bring it. I don’t know of any timetable because the ECG has said it is not necessary. Why would someone just wish evil for the country?” he asked.
This stance drew condemnation from some Ghanaians who called into a radio show, expressing frustration over erratic power supply and the lack of a clear timetable for planning purposes.
Despite backlash, the Energy Ministry clarified that the Minister’s comments were misinterpreted, while social media users expressed outrage over the Minister’s suggestion for consumers to create their own load shedding timetable.