The Engineering Council of Ghana has expressed serious concerns regarding the arrest of the General Manager of the Ashanti East Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ing. Michael Wiafe.
Ing. Wiafe was arrested on April 10, 2024, after overseeing an operation to disconnect the power supply to Kumasi Technical University due to non-payment.
This action was reportedly disapproved by the Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, leading to his directive for the arrest.
In a statement issued by the council, the Council emphasized that Ing. Wiafe was simply performing his routine duties related to power distribution and the recovery of payments.
“The Engineering Council is troubled by the fact that an engineering practitioner, who was carrying out his regular duties of ensuring power distribution and recovery of payments, has to face such a harrowing experience.”
“Such a development not only serves as a disincentive to other engineering practitioners but could, potentially, interfere with the work of other professionals in their respective organisations,” part of the statement read.
The Engineering Council has urged for an immediate and comprehensive investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the arrest and to prevent any future unwarranted interference in the professional duties of engineers.
“The Engineering Council is calling for an immediate investigation into the matter. It is necessary to take all the required steps to prevent any similar unwarranted interference in the diligent discharge of duty by professionals.
“The council is urging all engineering practitioners across the country restraint while appropriate state agencies deal with the matter,” it added.