The chiefs and the people of Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region have appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to restore power supply to the area to save businesses and economic activities from collapse.
Since July 27, 2022, the area has been without electricity due to the decision of the ECG to cut power to the area following actions by a section of the people not to allow the company to replace their postpaid meters with prepaid ones.
Event
Addressing a press conference in Somanya last Monday, the Divisional Chief of Okper, Nene Anyeenorgu Teye Agor IX, said the people had no problem with the ECG and would, therefore, continue to support the company in its prepaid meter installation activities.
“We want to state categorically and emphatically that no citizen of Yilo Krobo has, on record, ever resisted or confronted or obstructed the ECG in its line of duty since the company started the prepaid meter installation exercise some few weeks ago,” he said.
According to him, there had not been any reported incident of attack or threat or difficulty encountered by staff of the ECG by residents of Yilo Krobo because “Yilo Krobo citizens are law-abiding and will never do anything untoward to disturb the peace”.
“The ECG has always been working hand in hand with the Yilo Krobo paramountcy in the execution and administration of its statutory mandate and responsibility. The company has, at no time, complained to the paramountcy or chiefs of having difficulty with residents of Yilo Krobo during the ongoing installation of the prepaid meters,” the chief added.
He further pleaded with the ECG to temper justice with mercy and restore power to the area, saying: “The power outage is affecting every facet of our lives in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, especially Somanya, the traditional and municipal capital, where schools are suffering and every economic activity has come to a halt.”
Disappointment
Nene Agor said the people of Yilo Krobo felt disappointed, deceived and saddened by the decision of the ECG to indefinitely shut down power, not only in communities where some people had disrupted ECG activities but also extended it to Yilo Krobo, where the people were always cooperating with the company in the deployment of prepaid meters, adding: “The effect of this general disconnection is more harmful and costly to the country than one can imagine.’’
“National Security and the Public Utilities Regulation Commission (PURC) are aware of the way Yilo Krobo is helping to resolve ECG challenges in the area,’’ he said.