Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has rejected claims that its staff were responsible for a fire that broke out at a residential facility in Two-Streams, a suburb of Koforidua, following a disconnection exercise. The company has described these allegations as baseless and urged the public to disregard them.
In a statement signed by Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, the General Manager of External Communications at ECG, the company clarified that the incident involved a customer who had an outstanding debt of GH¢6,519.38 since September 2024. As part of its ongoing “Operation Keep the Lights On” revenue mobilisation campaign, ECG staff visited the premises on January 24, 2025, to address the unpaid bill.
Upon arrival, the ECG team discovered an illegal self-reconnection of power and proceeded to disconnect the facility. The company noted that the disconnection was met with resistance from the customer, who allegedly threatened the staff with a machete. As a result, the team called for police assistance to ensure their safety while completing the disconnection process.
The power was disconnected directly from the pole outside the premises, which ECG states is standard procedure. Reports later indicated that the fire broke out long after ECG personnel had left the scene.
In its statement, ECG emphasised that disconnecting power directly from the pole is a routine practice that ensures the complete removal of electricity supply and cannot, under any circumstances, cause a fire outbreak.
“ECG wishes to state categorically that disconnection of power supply directly from a pole totally curtails electricity supply to the affected premises and CANNOT, by any means, result in a fire outbreak. Thus, the customer’s allegation against ECG is completely false. Disconnection has been part of our operations, backed by law, to ensure that recalcitrant customers pay for the electricity they consume,” the statement read.
The company also reassured the public of its commitment to safety and professionalism, stating that it would never take actions that put the lives and property of its customers at risk.
As a reminder, ECG urged all customers to settle their electricity bills promptly and avoid illegal connections to prevent similar incidents.