Ghana’s Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfuor, has suggested to agitating residents of Lower Manya Krobo area to go off the country’s national electricity grid if they feel they cannot pay bills.
According to the Regional Minister, it is impossible for their demand for free electricity supply to be met therefore they must be ready to pay electricity bills presented to them by the country’s Power Distribution Services( PDS) or get off the National grid.
“We are all Ghanaians, we are all human beings, we don’t want anybody to be mistreated. People should feel free and go about their duties legitimately. If you feel you cannot pay for electricity cut it off. It is optional, the only thing that Universally is free in Ghana now is Free SHS not electricity bill.”
The Regional Minister said this on Thursday, 23rd May, 2019 during a stakeholders meeting following series of protests by power consumers in the Lower Manya Municipality that they were not going to pay for electricity bills because, Ghana’s first President late Dr Kwame Nkrumah promised them that they would enjoy free electricity, due to the fact the Akosombo Dam which gives Ghana about 900 MW of power is situated on their land.
Interestingly, the residents also alleged that they are being over billed a claim officials of PDS have refuted.
The Regional Minister noted that, there is no free energy any where in the world and that what government of Ghana has done is to reduce electricity tariff for various consumers.
“Everybody, the Rich and Poor, you have to pay for electricity. Fuel has never been for free whether it is firewood or charcoal or solar or anything it is never free. Never in this world, I haven’t seen it before”.
He has meanwhile ordered for the arrest of leaders of groups and individuals masterminding the riot in the area.
Members of both REGSEC and MUSEC had meanwhile visited the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakitey to hold a close door meeeting with him .
The Public Relations Officer of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council ,Nene Asada Ahor ,told the media Konor is not happy with the violent approach adopted by the youth adding that they did not channel their grievances through the traditional authority for diplomatic means to be use to have it addressed.
