The Ghana Electricity Company has served a disconnection notice to Ghana's leading university, the University of Ghana, UG, for GH33 million in power bills.
The university had 72 hours to pay the debt or face being disconnected from the national grid, according to the power distributor.
According to reports, UG has two metering systems, with a total indebtedness of the same amount. On both meters, the institution owes GH10,926,147.53 and GH22,102,459.04.
According to Citi News in Accra, the university's most recent large payment was over GH10.5 million in January 2021, according to their sources.
ECG is pursuing large debtors.
In recent years, ECG has targeted large debtors, including government offices and other multinational institutions.
The firm removed power to Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport a few weeks ago (KIA).
The operation on Monday, March 14, 2022 was carried out because Ghana's largest international airport was believed to owe the power distributor a total of GHC49 million.
The Accra Sports Stadium and the La Palm Beach Hotel, both over-indebted to the tune of 508,087.37 and 192,073.62, were both disconnected from the national grid on the same day.
According to a Joy FM report, ECG has issued a notice of impending disconnection to the Finance Ministry and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
Operation all-out and a warning to other defaulters
In an interview with Joy FM, the task force commander, Steven Larbi Siaw, stated that the revenue mobilization effort will not spare any institution.
"As you are aware, we have been tasked. We've been present to ensure that the ECG's debt is reduced. So, since we've been given permission to proceed, we're doing so.
"By either taking on the debt that they owe us, or ensuring that we disengage the supply, so that they can follow up to the office and speak with our leaders," he explained.
He also issued a warning to other governmental and private entities on the verge of being cut off.