ECG’s revenue mobilization exercise retrieves over 70% of debts owed
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) recently conducted a revenue mobilization exercise aimed at retrieving over GHC5.7 billion debt owed to the company. The exercise lasted for a month and covered the entire country. Out of the total debt owed, the Ashanti Region alone accounts for GHC1.2 billion.
According to a statement released by the ECG, the exercise was successful, with over 70% of the debt owed to the company being retrieved. However, the company encountered some challenges during the exercise, including resistance from some customers to pay. Despite these challenges, the ECG stated that it is satisfied with the outcome of the exercise.
Grace Garshong, the Ashanti Regional public relations officer of the ECG, stated that the revenue mobilization exercise brought to light some illegal connections, including some in senior high schools. The company has engaged with these schools to rectify the situation and ensure that they are billed accordingly.
In addition to targeting defaulters and people engaged in power theft, the ECG has also emphasized the importance of timely payment of bills. The company has warned customers who are owing ECG not to wait for the company to come to their premises. The ECG has also urged customers who are involved in illegal connections to rectify the situation before the company gets to their premises, as the company will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone found guilty of such offences.
The ECG’s revenue mobilization exercise is part of a broader effort by the Ghanaian government to address the financial challenges facing the country’s energy sector. According to the International Energy Agency, Ghana has made significant progress in recent years in expanding access to electricity, with nearly 85% of the population now having access to electricity. However, the country’s energy sector continues to face significant financial challenges, including high debt levels and low tariff rates.
To address these challenges, the Ghanaian government has implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the financial viability of the energy sector. These reforms include the implementation of a tariff adjustment plan aimed at ensuring cost-reflective tariffs, the implementation of a payment security mechanism aimed at reducing payment defaults, and the implementation of a regulatory framework aimed at improving sector governance.
The ECG’s revenue mobilization exercise is one of the many initiatives being implemented under the government’s broader energy sector reform program. The success of the exercise is a positive sign that the government’s efforts to improve the financial viability of the energy sector are starting to pay off.
Looking ahead, the ECG has stated that it will continue to monitor customers who were disconnected during the exercise to ensure that they pay their debt. The company has also emphasized the importance of timely payment of bills and the need for customers to desist from engaging in illegal connections and power theft. By taking a firm stance on debt collection and illegal connections, the ECG is sending a strong message to customers and stakeholders that it is committed to improving the financial viability of the energy sector and ensuring that customers have access to reliable and affordable electricity.
