The Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) has directed its members (ECG staff) in the Krobo District not to go out to troubled areas due to threats and attacks from the youth but to remain in the District Office until further notice.
They have been told to remain resolute until a conducive working environment is guaranteed, where ECG staff can freely go about their duties without the support of the security agencies in the municipalities.
They have avowed that their members will not risk their lives any further in a statement.
“The network of ECG belongs to ECG and ECG needs to have control over its network. With the current developments, it is clear that the ECG in the Krobo District has lost control over its network, posing serious safety risks to the lives of the staff and public property,” the statement read.
“Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) of TUC-Ghana hereby calls on all stakeholders to engage the youth of the area and bring them to order so that the staff of ECG who are PUWU members can go about their duties and serve the good people of the Krobo District in a safe and peaceful environment devoid of threats and physical attacks.
“The recent development by some youth of Kporwunor, Maadam, Nuasu Old Town and Agbom communities in the Krobo District does not guarantee the safety and lives of our members (staff of ECG) in these areas. It would be recalled that the youth of these communities have been threatening the staff of ECG since 2019. For instance, the youth threatened that they would cut off the heads of ECG staff if the latter go to these areas for revenue mobilisation and/or metre reading exercises. There are instances where some staff, on their normal work schedules, have been attacked by some youth of the area.”
The Union explained, in July this year, some youth of Krobo District took the law into their hands by tampering with ECG’s network, connecting power illegally, and deliberately cutting the fibre-optic connection.
They alleged they further attempted to lynch two technicians of Vobiss Solutions Ltd. who went there to mend the cut in the fibre network in Kporwunor.
“There are instances where they threatened
ECG teams, burnt tyres, disconnected and removed installed prepaid meters.”
The Utility Union pointed out on July 27, that, “the youth massed up at Kporwonor junction, pelted the Military and the ECG team with stones and went ahead to fire two (2) gunshots at the team.The Military decided to restrain themselves to avoid any blood bath.”
On the installation exercise, the Utility Union said following the series of engagements between the ECG and all stakeholders, it commenced the installation of prepaid metres in the two municipalities on Wednesday, 18th May 2022.
The installation was carried out by officials of ECG, with the assistance from Engineers from the 48 and 49 Engineers Regiments of the Ghana Army.
The exercise started smoothly from Kpong, but when the prepaid installation team got to Nuasu, on Monday June 27, 2022, some residents of Nuasu protested that they do not want the prepaid metres in the area.
The team, halted the installation of the metres in the Lower Manya Krobo to avoid any confrontation, and proceeded to the Yilo Krobo Municipality where the installation exercise has been ongoing without interruption.
“We would like to equally apologize to the cherished customers of ECG in the affectcd areas,
who due to this unfortunate development have been in darkness,” the Union noted.
By Yvonne Neequaye|Eastern Region|Onuaonline.com
