The minister for power, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has hinted the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) is gradually been weaned from the Volta River Authority in order for it to generate power efficiently and effectively.
The minister was speaking at a ceremony at Anateem in the Upper East Region Wednesday where he commissioned the Thengaship project in the area.
According to him, NEDCO, which has over the years been a subsidiary of the VRA is been weaned from the Volta River Authority to ensure that the generation and processing of power is made swift and efficient for the three Northern regions.
He explained that, this move is in line with government’s effort to breach the power gap between the North and the South which has existed for so long a time.
He however mentioned that, the transition process needs huge fiscal commitment.
He called on stakeholders to support the move to ensure NEDCO is given the utmost support as a commercial entity and also to ensure smooth running of its operations.
“NEDCO is a commercial entity and since it’s been weaned from the VRA, its activities are going to be cost effective. This process could be made easier and more smooth if all stakeholders perform their duties expected of them.”
He mentioned that cost of production of power is very expensive and that the period when people were of the perception that electricity was free is far overdue. He therefore charged residents and the general public to pay their electricity bills and pay them on time.
“NEDCO is been weaned off VRA so that it can stand on its own. The days that people thought electricity was free is over, and the payment of electricity should be part of our new reality,” he said.
The minister appealed to the Traditional Authority to be torch bearers in this regard saying “palaces are not exempt from the payment of electricity bills. Palaces are to serve as an example to the people by paying for the electricity used and paying it on time.”
The minister called on all and sundry to make the conservation of electricity a priority.
By: Offei-Akoto Ayeh | A1radioonline.com | Ghana
