Residents of Akweteman demonstrate over power outages

Residents of Akweteman, a suburb of Accra, on Saturday demonstrated against the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for the erratic power supply in the area.

The demonstration, which started at about 0600-1000 hours, saw the demonstrators march through the principal streets of the area to Achimota.

They held placards some of which read: “ECG, you are killing Akweteman slowly with your power fluctuations,” “ECG we want you to follow the power schedule” and “We are fed up with the erratic power supply; it is destroying our gadgets.”

Mrs Agnes Sefako Annane, Spokesperson of the demonstrators, alleged that the ECG officer in-charge of the Achimota Sub-Station favoured residents of Achimota, where he resides, by judiciously following their power schedule while that of Akweteman went off and on without schedule.

“I think that the officer is sacrificing power supposed to be enjoyed by residents of Akweteman to the residents of Achimota because he also resides there.

“The officer is intentionally reducing the supply of power to Akweteman to beef-up that of Achimota. I think this is discrimination, injustice and corruption at its highest,” she said.

Mrs Annane called on the Management of the ECG to investigate the matter since the erratic power supply, which had continued for about three months now, was causing damage to their electrical appliances, especially their refrigerators.

A cold-store operator, who spoke on anonymity, said the problem had affected his business as he always run into losses.

Ms Merry Tagoe, a seamstress, said the situation had affected her production and livelihood.

“I used to sew between seven and 10 dresses within a week but now it is even difficult to sew three dresses within the same period because of the erratic power supply. This is a threat to my livelihood,” she said.

She called on the ECG to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible to avert any fire outbreak.

Source: GNA