The police have arrested 24-year-old Veronica Ansah, a shopkeeper at Abeka Free-Pipe in Accra, for locking up a staff of the Electricity Corporation of Ghana (ECG) in her store.
The personnel was a member of a group doing a monitoring exercise to examine the condition of the local pre-paid meters.
The team’s attention was drawn to the shop, which had power reconnected to it without recourse to ECG after it had been disconnected previously for engaging in a meter by-pass.
The shop is owned by one Mr Enoch Kwafo, who allegedly ordered his attendant to lock the ECG staff up while they called a mob to attack him.
The locked-up staff was, however, rescued by colleagues who had visited nearby premises.
The case was reported to the police and the attendant was arrested.
Dr. Mark Owusu Ansah, Accra West Regional Revenue Protection Manager, and ECG, said: “The customer had reconnected power to his shop on three previous occasions despite a bill slapped on him for engaging in illegal connection.”
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he said the shop owed Gh¢ 10, 517.53.
“The customer has not approached us to clear this debt, and keeps reconnecting himself anytime we disconnect him,” Dr Owusu Ansah said.
https://myrepubliconline.com/shopkeeper-detained-for-locking-up-ecg-personnel-at-abeka-free-pipe/
Mr Ebenezer Ghunney, the Accra West General Manager, ECG, expressed concerns over incidents of threats and attacks on staff of the Company while they carried out their legitimate duties.
“We are liaising with the security agencies to ensure that our staff work in the best congenial and peaceful atmosphere always,” he said.
He said the Company would take action against anyone who impeded the work of its field staff.
Last year, the Accra West Region recovered GH¢ 10,363,755 from 1,900 customers who were apprehended for engaging in various forms of illegal connections.
These customers were surcharged for the power they used and some were also tried in court for stealing power.
The Accra West Region has eight operational districts. They are Ablekuma, Achimota, Amasaman, Bortianor, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Korle-Bu and Nsawam.
SOURCE: REPUBLICONLINE.COM
