Ghana cuts power supply to debt-laden public bodies

Accra: Ghana s state electric distributor has cut power supply to several state institutions over unpaid bills running to tens of millions of dollars,...

Accra: Ghana's state electric distributor has cut power supply to several state institutions over unpaid bills running to tens of millions of dollars, adding its pleas for payment have fallen on deaf ears.

The Electricity Company of Ghana on Tuesday cut off electricity to Ghana Water Limited's Weija treatment plant in Accra, citing an outstanding bill of $97 million, then turned its sights on the

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) over arrears of $305,000 after the media firm failed to adhere to a structured payment plan.

"This is not a step we take lightly, but we have given them enough notice. These are long?standing arrears," Ishmael Tetteh Oku, ECG's acting general manager of operations, told AFP.

"While we recognise the public importance of these utilities, ECG cannot continue supplying power for free amid its own financial challenges."