The Akufo-Addo administration has cleared over GH¢2 billion debt owed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), placing the state-owned power distributor in a better position to operate.
Minister for Energy Mr John Peter Amewu disclosed this at a media briefing in Accra yesterday.
He explained that “In 2016 when the NDC (National Democratic Congress (NDC) left power the total amount owed the ECG was GH¢2.63 billion. The NPP (New Patriotic Party) on the assumption of office ensured it was current on all the bills incurred from 2017 to date”.
“President Akufo-Addo has paid 2 billion annually to cover bills to ECG.
“All bills have been paid to ECG with a credit of 500 million,” Mr Amewu added.
The government recently announced some reliefs for electricity consumers as a result of the Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
President Nana Akufo-Addo in a televised address said electricity bills of all lifeline customers (persons who consume zero (0) to Fifty (50) kilowatt-hours a month) will be fully absorbed by the Government.
Non-Lifeline Prepaid and Post-paid customers (Residential and Commercial) will enjoy Fifty Percent (50%) relief on their electricity consumptions in April, May and June, using their March 2020 consumption as the benchmark.
All the reliefs were implemented from 1st May 2020.
ECG is a limited liability Company wholly owned by the Government of Ghana and operating under the Ministry of Energy (ME).
The Company is responsible for the distribution of electricity in the southern part of Ghana.