ECG restores power to GBC in Volta Region

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has restored electricity supply to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in the Volta Region after making part payment of piled up bills.

It would be recalled that in September 2015, the power distribution company cut supply to the state broadcaster’s main transmission tower at Amedzofe, over GBC’s failure to settle debts accumulated over several years.

Prior to the disconnection, GBC which provides the only easily accessible free to air TV channel in the Volta region and its radio is the only FM signal that transmitted across the Region.

The disconnection therefore limited GBC’s transmission feed to only within the Ho municipality.

GBC has so far paid about ¢600,000.00 out of about ¢720,000.00 it owed ECG before it was disconnected.

The Volta Regional General Manager of ECG, Ing. Joseph Forson, said no institution will be spared if it fails to pay its bills.

“We acknowledge the immense role and contribution of GBC as a state broadcaster, but that cannot be an excuse to enjoy electricity services,” Forson said.

He revealed that management of ECG will further dialogue with GBC to agree on a payment schedule for the remaining debt.

Forson described as worrying, the failure of individuals and institutions to settle their bills promptly.

“Disconnection is always the last resort” he said, adding that “where there are genuine difficulties, we are always ready to dialogue and schedule payment with our debtors. It will be a disservice to allow a customer to continue using power and piling up more debts, when they fail to pay their outstanding debts”.

In December 2015, the Deputy Minister of Communications, Ato Sarpong promised Parliament that his Ministry will help negotiate a suitable payment plan for GBC to settle its debts to ECG.

The promise was in response to queries from members of the house on why majority of residents in the Region had been denied access to GBC’s transmissions for several months.