Africa-Press – Ghana. Staff of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) have suspended the withdrawal of their field services in Tamale and its environs with immediate effect for two weeks.
The Management of NEDCo said following “relentless” engagements with its staff and other stakeholders, including Assemblymen and other Opinion Leaders through the interventions of the Northern Regional Minister and the Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the staff had resolved to suspend the withdrawal of their field services in Tamale and its environs.
NEDCo in a statement signed by Mr Maxwell K. Kotoka, Manager, Corporate Affairs, said the suspension of field services would take effect pending the resolution of some outstanding matters.
The Company mentioned “the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the machete attacks on the NEDCo Team that was on official duty at Korblimahagu on Tuesday, March 08, 2022.”
Also, it said the provision of military cover for their field operations especially those that hinged on revenue collection and protection, namely, disconnections, monitoring for power theft and the installation of Smart Prepayment Meters, was still outstanding.
NEDCo, therefore, called for the deepening of ongoing community engagements aimed at community ownership of the security of NEDCo field staff while they were on the field embarking on their legitimate duties. The statement said the case of Korblimahagu was under further review as deeper engagements were underway.
It said while management wished to assure the public that it would not rest on its oars in getting the suspension converted into a permanent closure, it wished to court public support and protection for NEOCo staff while they went about their legitimate field duties.
A cardinal part of those duties, the company said, was monitoring to “prevent and/or arrest power theft and the installation of Smart Pre-Payment Meters which have been proven to be less susceptible to manipulation and power theft.”
“We need your unflinching support to continue to serve you dutifully and in harmony,” it appealed to residents.
The Company expressed appreciation to the Northern Regional Minister, the Executive Secretary of PURC, the Presiding Members of both the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and Sagnarigu, the Municipal Assembly and the membership of both Assemblies, for their contributions to the resolution of the impasse.
The Company, therefore, expressed optimism for continued support as it forged ahead in its resolve to eradicate power theft and protect the meagre resources available in order to strengthen and enable NEDCo to serve the communities better.
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
