Ghana: NEDCo’s Sustainability Is Under Serious Threat—MD

The Managing Director of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Mr Osmani Aludiba Ayuba says the company’s sustainability is under threat given the increasing rate of power theft by residents of Northern Ghana.

The company is responsible for power supply in the northern part of Ghana and ECG is responsible for the southern part of Ghana.

“Our losses in the northern area in general and Tamale, in particular, constitute an existential threat to NEDCo. Whereas the losses in the northern area hover around 45%, the case in Tamale township is around 48%. The power theft situation in Tamale, if not addressed immediately, can cause the collapse of NEDCo in the very foreseeable future,” Mr Osmani Aludiba Ayuba said during the inauguration of Special Revenue Protection Taskforce by the Energy Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi.

The members of the Taskforce are Terence Ninnang, Ali Philip, Hilda Alhassan, Abdul -Malik Hussein, Winfred Sewua, Ayishetu Ayamga, Elvis Demuyakor, John Yamoah and Alexander Otu-Larbi.

Mr Osman Ayuba revealed that the current tariff regime sells a unit of power to them at 50.28GHp/kWh, but because they sell the same unit to lifeline customers at 41.91GHp/kWh, there are making a loss of 8.37/kWh.

Mr Ayuba stated that his outfit has procured some smart pre-payment meters mainly to replace the other types that lend themselves more readily to manipulation and power theft.

The Managing Director of NEDCo said management, under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy, has constituted the Special Revenue Protection Taskforce to help collect revenue in the region.

“We have put in some pragmatic steps towards improving our overall customer-centeredness with your support and cooperation.”

The King of Dagbon, Nidan Ya Na Abubakari II commended the government for its continuous commitment to providing affordable electricity for Ghanaians.

“It is breathtaking to see the determination of the government, through your ministry, to provide affordable electricity to Ghanaians in furtherance of the government’s pledge to the Ghanaian people. The good leadership you exhibit at your ministry has sown a seed of hope and expectations of the people in government.”

The Energy Minister called for the support of the King of Dagbon to help officials of NEDCo with the installation of new pre-paid meters in Dagbon when he paid a courtesy call on him at the Gbewa Palace.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com