The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has issued a disconnection notice to two major hospitals in Ho due to overdue arrears.
The hospitals have been given six working days to clear their debts or risk being disconnected from the national power grid on April 3, 2023.
The hospitals owe a total of GH1,875,300.18 in accruals from 2021 to the present, with Ho Teaching Hospital owing GH1,459,926.23 and Ho Municipal Hospital owing GH415,373.95.
According to PURC Regulations LI 2413,37, sub-regulation (2), the ECG gave hospitals written notices of disconnection at least three working days before disconnecting the service.
The disconnection notification advises hospitals to settle their arrears within six working days to prevent termination.
Ing. Michael Buabin, the Volta Region Acting General Manager of ECG said the “disconnection is normally a last resort in order to avoid customers from incurring additional debt and to enable the firm to collect more cash to keep the electrical supply chain functioning.”
He further claimed that ECG “does not take delight in disconnecting clients” and asked all customers to prioritise paying their electricity bills.
These are sensitive facilities that require power to function, and ECG claims it has met with them multiple times to allow them to settle their arrears before delivering the disconnection notice.
Ing. Buabeng went on to say, “ECG is looking for a constructive response from the hospitals to avoid any type of disconnection.” Failing to fulfil ECG’s aim could have an impact on the electricity supply system and the economy due to power outages.”
ECG has initiated a one-month state-wide campaign to recover nearly 5.7 billion Cedis from its debtors, including 220 million Cedis recovered in the Volta Region.
