Asuogyaman communities threaten to remove newly installed NEDCo prepaid meters with accumulated debts

Some residents of Akosombo Combine, Mangoase, Tuska, Afabeng, Akyease, New Powmu and Ganakpe in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region have served notice that they will remove all newly installed NEDCo prepaid meters deployed by the Volta River Authority (VRA), citing unresolved concerns over billing and accumulated debts.

The affected communities are also calling on President John Dramani Mahama to set up an independent investigative body, excluding the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), to probe alleged accumulated electricity debts and what they describe as excessive service charges imposed by the VRA.

Their latest position follows a petition submitted to the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, urging government intervention in a long-running dispute over alleged unfair billing practices and lack of accountability by the VRA.

Speaking to the media at Akosombo, lead spokesperson for the aggrieved residents, Michael Worlanyo, said the problem dates back to the installation of earlier electricity meters that he claimed were not properly calibrated, leading to inflated bills and mounting debts on customer accounts.

He said the situation had persisted for years despite earlier complaints and investigations, including interventions by the PURC.

“We are five communities, and the VRA supplies us with electricity. Some postpaid meters were brought to us 12 years ago, but the consumption was unusual, and we petitioned the previous government, and PURC was asked to come and investigate.

Some of us used to pay like GH¢250, 10 years ago, but when the meters were changed, our bills dropped to GH¢90. Prepaid meters were brought to us without our notice. They mounted the metres with huge debts on them. Some people owed over GH¢10,000 according to the new prepaid meters. We are appealing to President Mahama and the Energy Minister to institute an independent body to investigate,” he said.

According to the residents, although PURC intervened following earlier protests and facilitated the replacement of meters for a third time, they remain dissatisfied with the outcome. They also allege that the regulator continues to impose a monthly service charge of over GH¢50 on each electricity purchase, which they describe as unfair.

The communities insist they will continue to resist the installations until their concerns are fully addressed through an independent and transparent review process.