Editorial
Protests over prepaid meters untenable
Dear Editor,
I am appalled at banter between some citizens of Yilo Krobo and Electricity Company of Ghana over the installation of prepaid meters in the area. Since 2014, some the residents and officials of the ECG have been in the news for the wrong reason.
I learnt disagreement over electricity bills had led to protests and attacks on ECG staff and destruction of property belonging to the company with some groups resolving not to pay electricity bills anylonger.
Renewed disturbances, according to a recent report, compelled ECG to relocate its District Office from Somanya to Juapong so as to protect its staff in parts of Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities.
These happenings, I believe, are uncalled for to the extent that it has taken the intervention of the military and police for ECG to start installing prepaid meters at some residence in the district.
I do not know how well stakeholders are engaging the residents to find amicable solutions to their grievances but, thankfully, calm seems to be returning to the area following the deployment of security personnel.
While I urge ECG to continue carrying out its mandate without fear or favour, I wish to remind residents that everybody pays for utilities supplied by the state, therefore, the argument of the youth groups behind the protests are untenable.
In addition to the security precaution, stakeholders and opinion leaders in the area must call their followers to order so we do not witness clashes when the military personnel leave the area after the installation of the meters.
Fred Odamy,
Akuse.
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
