The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s power transmission company, GRIDCo, Ing. Jonathan Amoako-Baah, has committed to addressing the issues raised by workers of the company in relation to unpaid debts by some of its bulk customers.
Staff groups of the power transmission company in the West African nation last Tuesday hit the streets of Accra, Ghana’s capital city to express their displeasure about the inability of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta Aluminum Company (VALCo) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to settle their debts totaling some GHS1.2billion.
These payments have been outstanding for sometime now and has caused GRIDCo to fall behind on some of its debt obligations.
Currently, French development partner, Agence Française de Development (AFD), has suspended disbursements of a US$170 million facility to the GRIDCo due to its inability to meet the payment terms.
Speaking at a Long Service Awards event for 151 staff in Tema, Ing. Amoako-Baah said: “Management has taken note of recent staff agitations in the media and is very committed to addressing the issues raised. High stakeholder engagements are ongoing to find solutions to the company’s current financial situation. We place a high premium on our responsibility to protect the interest of staff and we will not renege on our fiduciary duty.”
GRIDCo’s current financial situation has stifled ongoing capital projects such as the expansion of its power export capacity to neighboring Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, the company has served notice that it will not countenance unethical behavior from staff such as absenteeism, misappropriation of company property for personal use and leakage of confidential corporate information.
The CEO, speaking at the same event, said the company is taking active steps to promote a sustainable work environment by upholding honesty, integrity and accountability.
Source:www.energynewsafrica.com
