A group calling itself Concerned Citizens of Kroboland has expressed worry about the weeks-long blackout in the Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo districts of the Eastern Region.
Staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have refused to work in the two districts, citing safety concerns after a programme to re-install prepaid metres in households was violently resisted.
A decision to deploy military officers to escort staff to install the metres became the bone of contention.
This also forced the engineers of ECG to sit out, claiming danger to their lives.
But Concerned Citizens of Kroboland says the threats to the lives of the ECG engineers were only issued by Kpongunor, a community which is less than 6 percent of the entire population in Kroboland.
A statement issued by its Commissioner, S.K Tettey, condemned a certain wrong impression being created in the media that all customers in Kroboland are against the move by the state’s power-distribution company.
“Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo districts have a combined population of about 243000 people,” it said.
“The major towns Somanya, Odumase, Agormanya, Kpong, Nuaso and Akuse.
“The installation of the prepaid meters have been welcomed by all the densely populated towns which form the economic hub for both districts. Residents of Kpong and Somanya, which are the most populated towns in Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo respectively, have cooperated with ECG engineers on the installation of prepaid meters and have since been buying and using prepaid credit.”
It indicated that Kpongunor is “a minor community whose population is less than 6 percent of the entire population of Kroboland”.
“It is, however, unfortunate that the rejection of the prepaid meters by this minor community in Lower Manya Krobo is the grounds on which ECG has pulled off the plugs thereby plunging the entire Krobo area into darkness for over 14 days.”
It said the situation is affecting not only livelihoods but also local businesses.
It said Kpongunor should be dealt with separately.
“We call on ECG to restore power supply to the communities that have accepted the prepaid meters whiles it takes steps to settle its scores with the recalcitrant community.”
Source: 3news.com|Ghana
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