The Institute for Energy (IES) has advised the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to carry out monthly revenue mobilisation exercises to ensure that they do not accumulate debts owed to them.
Research and Policy Analyst at IES, Adam Yakubu, speaking to the media, said that making the exercise routine would instil awareness regarding payments for electricity consumed.
“I think it should be something that should be done monthly so that they go around every month to mobilise revenue,” he added.
ECG’s month-long revenue mobilisation initiative, which began on 20 March, will end on Friday, 21 April 2023.
Samuel Dubik Mahama, Managing Director of ECG, stated that his company is considering reaching out to private firms to help retrieve funds from defaulting customers after the end of the exercise.
“There is a possibility that we might even sell the debt to private institutions to go and collect. It is something that we are considering because we’ve gotten to the point where we need all the help we can get.”
“So, if it means discounting it to other companies and then getting what we need, why not? It is something on the table worth considering,” he said.
“If you are buying £1 million, it is irrelevant. If you’re coming to buy about £200 million, £400 million, then you’re talking. So, it is something I’ll present to the board at the right time, and we’ll go through it and we can give percentages to them,” he explained.
He also revealed that preparations are being made to launch a new initiative that would focus on unauthorised power connections in the country.
He added that anyone found guilty of the act would be prosecuted.
“So let’s take it that I am giving everyone a head start. Anybody who believes their meter has been tampered with and there is a bypass, note that the utility court is being set up, and you are going to be charged with stealing. You will not be charged with bypass, and we know stealing is imprisonment, so if you’ve bypassed the meter, please correct it,” he added.