Telecom giant MTN Ghana has joined calls for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to follow the published load shedding time table.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0l2Jlt7yNm0c6ZXR3d6II74iYLKfvwpb”]According to MTN Ghana’s CEO Serame Taukobong “the critical thing is engaging with government to find solutions to the problem and yes we don’t have 100 percent reliability on ECG, that is why we have got such a high consumption on fuels and consumed as much as 2 million liters of fuel per month. Though we have a three plan back-up at most of our critical sites on a genset or even the battery backup but obviously the lack of fuel and battery does affect your ability to serve customers.”
MTN is not the only company that has complained about ECG’s failure to comply with its published timetable.
ECG has come under fire severally for months now from companies and individuals over its failure to comply with its load shedding timetable.
Early this week the Alliance for Young Entrepreneurs (AYE) which is a national network of young entrepreneurs and business leaders in Ghana threatened to by close of this week file a suit against the ECG over its failure to religiously follow its load shedding time table.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) earlier demanded that the ECG must comply fully with its load shedding regime to allow for programmed production.
Industries have expressed concerns with the rise in production cost following the current power crisis.
According to AGI it members can plan effectively despite the power crisis if the ECG adheres to the load shedding regime and improve production.
Speaking to Citi Business News the President of AGI James Asare Adjei said,” the current load management process going on is challenging to businesses especially in the industrial sector, it affects productivity.”
He explains that a special dispensation must be given to businesses located in industrial enclaves.
“Some of these businesses must be isolated and given continuous power supply to make sure we don’t disrupt production processes”, Asare Adjei affirmed.
MTN Ghana’s CEO Serame Taukobong believes more engagements between the business communities and power providers on when the power would be put off or on should be regular to help them plan adequately.
“We do understand the magnitude of work that needs to be done but we need to ensure that we are forward looking by engaging business leaders and the community, ensuring that there is communication to help in effective planning.”
By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana
