In the wake of the deadlock between indigenes of Krobo land and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on the payment of bills for the period that their bills jumped and tripled leading to a demonstration that led to loss of lives, Former Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, Michael Teye Nyaunu is urging the Electricity of Ghana to engage the people for amicable solution to the impasse.
According to him, it would be unreasonable to say the Krobos should not pay electricity bill, “myself and some colleagues have disassociated ourselves from that call”.
According to him they have to pay their bills, but the solution to the brouhaha is in ECG engaging the opinion leaders of Krobo land to have an objective discussion that would lead to objective conclusion.
He also pointed out in an interview that before the coming of electricity, they were using lantern and kerosene for the purpose of light, and in doing so they had to buy them separately. “Same vein, if our lands were taken for the construction of the dam, does not mean we should not pay bills, because the electricity was generated out of the water and others have gotten jobs by distributing and maintaining the facility”.
“I do not operate generator in my room, what was the justification for billing me ten thousand Ghana cedis, and the explanation we got from officials of ECG was unacceptable, rather we were told we should pay bit by bit”.
According to him, the quantum jumps in their bill which led to the brouhaha was unacceptable, stating that people who were paying GHc100 were presented with bills of GHc10,000, others had GHc500 and other outrageous amounts without any tangible explanation.
He rather proposed starting with a new billing system and have an engagement to deal with the backlog, and pointed out that the only language government hears better is demonstration; “Akufo-Addo led it, same with Kufour and Rawlings”.
“I go with my people on their demonstration over this issue and I prefer to die with my people than to be allowed to be taken for granted, government should engage, we are prepared to talk”, he added.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com