"Do not assault ECG staffs- Regional Director

"Do not assault ECG staffs- Regional Director
February 13, 2010
Takoradi, Feb. 13, GNA - Mr Ben Kofi Nyatefe, Western Regional Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on Wednesday called on the public to desist from assaulting personnel of the company in the course of their duties in the communities and premises.

Making the call at a press soiree at Takoradi, he said there were many cases of assault against staff of the company, particularly in the districts last year, and some personnel who were beaten by customers were hospitalized.

Mr Nyatefe said for the past weeks, there had been new cases of assault of personnel and this is bound to continue if steps were taken to stem the practice.

He said personnel of company are serving the country by helping the company to extend electricity to all corners of the country and therefore, complaints including extortion by staff, should be reported to the appropriate quarters in the company.

Mr Nyatefe said so far, the company has installed 62,000 pre-paid meters in Sekondi-Takoradi and the installation, which is ongoing, would end in the metropolis by the end of the year.

He said the next place of the installation of meters would continue in Tarkwa Township, after which Axim and Bibiani Townships would have their turns respectively.

Mr Nyatefe said revenue collection before the installation of the meters was low but it has improved by 98 per cent.

He expressed concern about the theft of electrical conductors in the region, saying, this practice cost the company about GH¢ 67,000 last year.

Mr Nyatefe said the company is waiting for funds to install an early warning fault system at Takoradi to make it possible for engineers to detect and repair faults without waiting for customers to report them.

He said it is also on the drawing board to construct primary stations at Mpintsin and Takoradi Harbour, adding that, contracts for these projects have been signed and would soon take off.

GNA