[ 2016-08-26 ]

Day 3 of ECG workers' strike: Consumers denied service
Consumers have been denied service at various
offices of the Electricity of Company of Ghana
(ECG) as the strike declared by workers of the
company enters its third day.

The aggrieved workers began a sit-down strike on
Wednesday, August 24 to protest a planned
privatization of the power distribution company.

Government's $500 million indebtedness which
constitutes between 60-70 percent of all ECG’s
debts has been identified by the Public Utilities
Workers Union (PUWU) as a cause of the company's
financial struggles.

Despite its high indebtedness to the company,
government has insisted the privatization of the
ECG will improve efficiency after persistent
public dissatisfaction about the quality of
service.

Related: Prepare for a possible ECG privatisation
- Prez Mahama

Think tank group, IMANI Centre for Policy and
Education, has led calls for privatization of at
least 50 percent of the power distribution
company.

The group said privatisation would bring about
competition in the sector which will, in turn,
bring about efficient service.

Related: Privatize more than 50% of ECG – IMANI
Boss

But workers of the Company have vehemently opposed
this move, fearing it might cause them to lose
their jobs after at least five years of the
concession.

They believe the privatization is part of a set of
conditionalities given government by the United
States' Millennium Challenge Corporation.


After series of demonstrations, the workers
threatened to plunge the nation into darkness on
Friday, August 26 as part of their protest.

Some consumers who visited the ECG office at
Avenor, in Accra were left unattended to while the
workers demonstrated outside the premises.

"I have come all the way from Abeka to purchase
prepaid credit and I saw them demonstrating
outside. I was so surprised and I did not know
they were on strike...they have not said anything
to me yet and it is frustrating," a dissatisfied
consumer told Joy News.

Joy News' correspondents across the regions
reported similar incidents at the various regional
offices.

One of the workers who spoke with Joy News'
Central Regional correspondent, Richard Kojo
Nyarko said "This should be the concern of all
Ghanaians and not ECG workers alone. I am not
fighting for myself alone. Ghanaians should rise
up and say no to this move."

Meanwhile, government has expressed shock at the
action taken by the workers.

Related: Jinapor accuses ECG workers of breach of
trust

Deputy Minister for Power John Jinapor said the
grievances of the ECG workers was addressed during
a meeting between leaders of the workers' union
and the ministry.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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