Gov’t guarantees protection of ECG workers

The acting Energy Minister has assured workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) of government’s adequate protection for their lives in the conduct of their duties.

Seth Terkper said the government considers the workers safety as its priority hence the decision to activate security protection for them.

The minister disclosed this at a meeting with the workers on Wednesday, June 08 to consider the challenges facing the sector and its workers.

The ECG workers at a recent news conference claimed some of their members are being attacked by some Ghanaians when they go out.

This they claim is as a result of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC)’s allegation of overbilling by the company.

Addressing the workers, Mr Terkper said the cautioned the public to desist from such acts adding it does not help to address the challenges facing the sector.

He said the government is putting in place some steps to protect ECG workers at all levels.

“So we want to take the opportunity to say that any molestation that will occur such, incidents should be reported to the security agencies,” he entreated the workers.

Taking his turn to address the meeting, Secretary of the Public Utility Workers Union, Ato Bondzie welcomed the assurance from the acting sector minister.

He said the Union shall from time to time engage the government to ensure that it fulfills its promise else they will go out “again and cry to the public to hear our voice that we are not being handled fairly.”

According to him, “We are not being treated fairly but once we’ve been given some assurances, we shall be monitoring and then make sure that our people are safe out there.”

He explained the Union took their challenges to the public because of the safety of their members.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State in-charge of Private-Public Partnership has defended government’s decision to privatize the national power distributor.
He explained the government’s decision bothered around efficiency and the effectiveness of the company.

“Check the books to find out how much they owe accumulated over the years whether it is as a result of efficiency or inefficiency in the collection of levies and tariffs,” he said.

The answer he said has to do with the fact that “ECG has not been able to match up to the expectation of Ghanaians.”

As a result, he said, “there is the necessary need for us to speed up its operation to inject some level of efficiency in it and to ensure that it performs its functions as efficiently and as effectively as possible.”

“The thinking of government is that you can find that level of efficiency with the private sector,” he added

By-myjoyonline.com