ECG spends GH¢1.8m to improve power supply in Dansoman

Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, on Friday inaugurated an ultra- modern office for the Dansoman District of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr William Hutton Mensah, Managing Director, ECG, said the company spent GH¢1.8 million from December 2012 and May 2013 on projects to improve its systems at Dansoman to stem the unfavourable power supply situation in the district over the years.

“This comprises a total of 23 projects at various levels of completions, which…would lead to the availability of power supply to many suburbs in Dansoman,” he added.

He said ECG had embarked many projects to minimise the frequency and duration of network outages with the main one been the “live–line work”.

Mr Mensah said ECG had also put in place measures to reduce system losses through the use of technology.

“Among other interventions, we are placing metres on top of poles thereby making it difficult for people to tamper with them,” he said.

Mr Mensah cautioned staff of ECG to desist from hoarding metres, which “is a ploy used by some persons to extort money from unsuspecting customers”.

“I would urge the…public to report such officials to the company.”

He noted that currently only about 30 percent of urban dwellers had been hooked on to prepaid metres and said he expects all urban areas to use prepaid metres in the next three years.

Mr Buah urged the staff of ECG to place premium on customer care and endeavour to communicate exercises leading to power outages.

The Minister inspected a 20MVA mobile primary substation, aimed at augmenting power supply to the Dansoman District.

Mrs Perpetual Darfor, Board Chairperson, ECG, said a similar substation constructed for Teshie District would be inaugurated in June.

Ms Shirley Tamara Barnor, Dansoman District Manager, pledged to put customers’ interest first and urged them not to hesitate in reporting their grievances to the office.

Source: GNA