The General Secretary of the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), Michael Nyantakyi, has expressed his complete dissatisfaction with the arrest of the Regional Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah.
The incident occurred when a team claiming to be employees of ECG travelled from Accra to Kumasi to conduct a revenue mobilization operation, disconnecting some institutions that owed the company. One such institution was the Kumasi Technical University (KTU), which was disconnected last Friday for owing the Electricity Company of Ghana power distributor an amount of GH₵1.2 million.
Shortly after the disconnection, the regional manager for the Electricity Company of Ghana was arrested for refusing to comply with the regional minister, Simon Osei Mensah’s order to reconnect power to the school.
In an interview on the Oyerepa Breakfast show with Nana Yaw Mensah Joe, Mr Nyantakyi explained that this action was an attempt to hinder ECG from fulfilling its mandatory obligations.
“This is just an abuse of power especially when the person is performing legitimate duties” he stated.
He added that the Ashanti Regional Minister requested that the ECG reconnect the school, as the disconnection had brought some public unrest and fear.
“The team were part of the revenue Mobilization team that was sent from the National level and not even from ECG but rather straight from the Energy Ministry so the ECG has no control over the team” he stated.
He revealed that the regional manager was asked to write a statement and later granted bail which he believes is a total abuse of power from the Ashanti regional minister.
“He was made to write a statement for a crime not committed and granted bail which means he has been arrested and granted bail” he added.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com / Freduah Agyemang Derrick
