The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has taken a stand against the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC), demanding the withdrawal of fines imposed on the ECG directors.
Mahama argued that the sanctions are baseless and without legal foundation, warning that the ECG will seek legal recourse if the fine is not revoked.
According to Mahama, the PURC acted hastily in imposing sanctions without giving the ECG directors a fair hearing. He criticized the Commission for singling out individual directors for sanctions instead of addressing the incidents as a whole, calling it unreasonable and unjust.
Mahama highlighted the lack of legal basis for the fines imposed on the ECG Board of Directors, stating that the PURC exceeded its mandate by targeting individual board members. He emphasized that the sanctions are unjust and detrimental to the company’s restructuring efforts.
The PURC had ordered the ECG Board Members to pay a hefty fine of Five Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS5,868,000.00) for failing to notify customers about power outages. The Commission justified the fine by citing regulatory breaches and the need to hold accountable those responsible for ensuring quality service to consumers.
Mahama’s strong stance against the PURC’s sanctions sheds light on the ongoing power struggle between regulatory bodies and utility companies in Ghana. As the ECG navigates through restructuring challenges and public scrutiny over power supply issues, the issue of accountability and fair regulation remains a hot topic of debate.
