The Electricity Company of Ghana has served notice that it would disconnect a total of ninety-one (91) health facilities across the country from the national grid if they fail to settle their combined outstanding debt of GHC261 million.
The disconnection is part of the ECG’s nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise which began on March 20, 2023. The company is targeting to retrieve about GH¢5.7 billion from debtors, including GHC261 million from health facilities across the country.
The threat has called for the Western Regional Director of Health pleading with the company to exercise restraint with the operation due to the implications it may have on their patients.
He says the facilities will be left with nothing to cater for their patients if they pay all their debts with the available funds at their disposal.
Speaking in an interview with Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa
According to Dr. Yeboah, it would be difficult for the hospitals to settle the outstanding debts all at once but can be done in installments.
“If ECG decides to go ahead with the threat and wants all the listed hospitals to pay these outstanding debts in full, we may not have anything left in our coffers to take care of sick people. We are pleading with ECG to understand our situation and allow the hospitals to settle the debts in installments,” he indicated.
He explains, every gadget used in the hospitals relies on electricity to operate and if they are disconnected from the national grid, the result would be disastrous.
“We serve all manner of people and we don’t make profits in these hospitals. The bills we pay monthly are huge since almost every gadget we use relies on electricity. If ECG should go ahead to carry out the threat, we may lose a lot of lives at these hospitals and if that happens, we cannot promise to bring back those lives, it will be disastrous for the entire country,” he relayed.
In the Western region, eleven (11) hospitals are among the listed facilities mentioned by the power distribution company.
These hospitals include the Bogoso Hospital (Two meters) GHc497,828, Takoradi Hspt (Two meters) GHc3,509,295, Tarkwa Govt Hspt (Three meters) GHc9,499,254, Tarkwa Hspt Apinto GHc2, 391,983, Wassa Dunkwa Hspt (Two meters) GHc294,996 Government Hspt (Two meters) GHc1,708,108, Nsuaem Hospital GHc169, 220 Kwasimintim Hospital GHc1, 547,022, Essikado Govt Hspt GHc780,780, Elubo Hspt (Two meters) GHc271,993, and Akwantombra Hspt GHc184, 219.
By Eric Nana Gyetuah|Connect FM|Takoradi
