ECG Under Fire: Ketu South Protests Overbilling as PURC Demands Urgent Service Improvements

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is facing a wave of criticism from both the public and regulatory authorities following widespread reports of overbilling, power outages, and metering delays. In the Ketu South Municipality, hundreds of frustrated customers recently took to the streets to protest what they described as chronic billing inaccuracies and a lack of transparency from the utility provider. Led by community representatives Edem Viglo and Napoleon Gbeti, the demonstrators marched to the ECG Denu District Office, brandishing placards and demanding urgent reforms to ensure residents are charged fairly and treated with respect by utility officials.

The unrest in Ketu South was met with local government support, as Municipal Chief Executive Nicholas Kwabla Worklachie acknowledged the legitimacy of the consumers' grievances, noting that he had personally experienced similar billing issues. A formal petition was submitted to ECG’s customer service representative, Madam Jatoe-Kaleo Christina, who assured the protesters that the company would review their concerns. Protesters emphasized that beyond the financial strain of inflated bills, the lack of clear communication from ECG has severely damaged the relationship between the utility and the community it serves.

Simultaneously, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has intensified its oversight of ECG, specifically addressing the surge in service-related complaints in the Greater Accra Region. During a recent engagement with ECG district managers, PURC's Greater Accra Regional Manager, Madam Gifty Bruce-Nelson, highlighted critical operational failures, including overloaded transformers and significant delays in the acquisition and replacement of meters. The regulator pointed out that these technical inefficiencies are often the root cause of the billing disputes and frequent power fluctuations that continue to plague both domestic and commercial users.

To bridge the widening gap in service quality, the PURC has urged ECG to prioritize infrastructure upgrades and improve its public education efforts regarding billing practices. The commission stressed that better meter management is essential to reducing the volume of complaints and restoring consumer confidence. As the utility provider works to address these technical and administrative hurdles, the collaboration between the PURC and ECG remains pivotal in ensuring that electricity delivery aligns with national standards and provides the reliable energy foundation necessary for Ghana's economic growth under the current administration.