For several weeks, Ghanaians have been grappling with a frustrating issue, persistent network failures at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) offices. This has left many customers unable to purchase prepaid electricity units from ECG, forcing them to turn to private vendors.
Although the cost of electricity remains the same when buying from these vendors, many customers report that the power seems to finish more quickly than usual, adding to their frustration, especially in the wake of recent tariff hikes.
Speaking to The High Street Journal, Samuel, a frustrated customer, shared his experience. “I’ve been to the ECG office multiple times in the last three weeks, and each time, they tell me the network is down. I’m forced to buy from private vendors, but the power seems to finish so much faster. It doesn’t feel like I’m getting the same value.”
Nana Kwame, another customer interviewed by The High Street Journal, echoed this concern. “I depend on ECG for everything in my home. But when I buy from private vendors, the units don’t last as long. I top up, and within days, it’s all gone.”
While the cost of electricity is the same whether purchased from ECG or private vendors, the perception that prepaid units from private vendors deplete faster has left many customers feeling shortchanged. This perception, combined with the recent increase in electricity tariffs, has added a layer of financial strain on consumers, particularly those already struggling to manage the cost of living.
Small businesses, which rely heavily on consistent electricity, are also affected by the network failures. Many owners have expressed their frustrations over having to purchase power from private vendors, especially when the electricity appears to run out faster.
This unpredictability makes it difficult for businesses to plan operations, leading to financial losses that can be hard to recover.
What intensifies the frustration for many is the lack of clear communication from ECG. Both Samuel and Nana Kwame emphasized that ECG has not offered any explanations or solutions to the recurring network issues.
“We just want to know what’s happening, is it going to be permanent so we know that we have to go straight to the private people,” said Nana Kwame.
Customers therefore call on The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to step in to ensure ECG addresses these ongoing problems.
