Govt bungalow prepaid meter survey completed

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has completed work on a pre-installation survey of government bungalows to pave the way for the installation of prepaid meters for appointees and public servants.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ECG, Mr William Boateng, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that officials were making purchases to enable them carry out the mass installation exercise.

“We are also awaiting requirements from the regions since the directive to install the prepaid meters covers all official government residences nationwide,” Mr Boateng said.

President Mahama, in October this year, directed that prepaid meters be installed in official residences of all ministers and presidential staffers.

According to the directive, all members of the executive were to be responsible for the payment of their utility bills.

It followed what was described as confusion in the policy covering the payment of utility bills by ministers.

While utility bills of some ministers were paid by their ministries, others paid their bills themselves.

As part of the President’s directive, arrears of bills prior to the appointee moving into their residences would be debited to the various ministries before the prepaid meters are installed.

If fully implemented, the decision would help reduce government’s indebtedness to the ECG.

Mr Boateng noted that pre-installation survey had helped rewire some links in the various bungalows.

He said the installation of prepaid meters in all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to curb the abuse of electricity consumption was almost completed.

“In spite of the fact that the exercise was fiercely resisted by some ministries, I can say we have been able to overcome the challenges and have progressed steadily with the project,” Mr Boateng indicated.