In response to the recent power outage at Parliament House and Job 600, attributed to a purported GH¢23 million debt owed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Deputy Clerk Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror has vehemently refuted the allegation, maintaining that Parliament does not owe the stated amount.
The power cut, which occurred on Thursday, February 29, 2024, was implemented as part of the ECG’s “Operation Zero Balance” initiative, aimed at addressing outstanding debts owed by consumers.
However, Mr. Ahumah Djietror clarified that while Parliament acknowledges outstanding payments, the reported GH¢23 million debt is inaccurate.
According to Mr. Ahumah Djietror, Parliament has been diligent in meeting its financial obligations, with records documenting payments made to the ECG. He revealed that a payment of GH¢13 million was processed on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, reducing the outstanding debt to approximately GH¢12 million.
“As far as we are concerned, we’ve made payment, all the payment we have made, some have not reflected in their system. That’s what I’m saying, some do not reflect in their system,” he said.
Mr. Ahumah Djietror further expressed frustration over discrepancies in the ECG’s record-keeping, citing instances where payments made by Parliament failed to register in the utility company’s system.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive reconciliation of accounts to rectify the discrepancies and ensure accurate billing.
Describing the power outage incident as regrettable, Ahumah Djietror assured stakeholders of Parliament’s commitment to resolving the situation promptly. He disclosed plans to collaborate with the ECG to address the outstanding debt and ensure uninterrupted power supply to parliamentary facilities.
Acknowledging the importance of accurate financial management, Ahumah Djietror reiterated Parliament’s willingness to cooperate with the ECG to reconcile accounts and facilitate a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
“We have a breakdown, so we showed it to the Deputy Managing Director, we are just coming from his office. I said they should reconcile the account. We are going to get the bank to extract all the payments we’ve made in terms of the dates. I’m not sure how it’s captured, so there’s a gap in terms of the reconciliation as to what is the outstanding bill,” he added.