Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has issued a stark warning to state institutions with outstanding electricity bills, stressing that their power supply will be cut if payments are not made promptly. Among the primary offenders, he specifically called out the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) for failing to make any payments toward its electricity consumption, with Jinapor revealing that not a single cedi has been paid by the company.
The Energy Minister’s comments come at a time when the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is grappling with rising debts, with state institutions like the Ghana Water Company and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) being the primary culprits. Jinapor expressed his frustration, noting that ordinary citizens are continuing to pay their electricity bills while these institutions avoid their financial obligations.
He made it clear that if GWCL continues to disregard its responsibilities, the government would have no choice but to disconnect their power supply, emphasizing that it was unfair for state agencies to avoid paying for services they use while the general public continues to shoulder the burden.
“I’ve written to the President about Ghana Water. If this persists, we’ll have to cut them off,” Jinapor warned. “They collect money from the people for water services but refuse to settle their electricity debts. If they keep this up, we will be left with no option but to disconnect them.”
In addition to the power cuts, the Minister called for an urgent review of Ghana Water’s procurement processes. He stressed the need for cost-cutting measures to ensure that public institutions are financially responsible, not only for their power bills but also in their overall operations.
Jinapor also outlined that the government’s plan would involve a more stringent approach to debt recovery from institutions like Ghana Water, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), and Parliament, urging them to agree on payment plans to settle their arrears.
In an effort to secure compliance, the Energy Minister underscored that the ECG will no longer tolerate non-payment from state institutions, vowing to enforce strict measures to recover the debts and ensure that the financial burden doesn’t continue to fall on everyday Ghanaians. The government’s position is clear: all institutions, no matter their status, must meet their financial obligations or face consequences.
