Ashanti Regional Minister defends arrest of ECG boss, rejects calls for apology

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, says he cannot comply with demands for an apology from the staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for performing his duties.

Mr Osei Mensah argued that his decision to report the ECG Ashanti East General Manager, Michael Asomani Wiafe to the police was due to the management's breach of agreement in a payment schedule with the university.

His remarks come after members of the Senior and Junior Staff Unions of the ECG in the Ashanti Region demanded an apology from him for mistreating the area General Manager of ECG.

Read also: Ashanti Regional Minister must apologise or… – ECG workers protest arrest of colleague

Mr Wiafe was arrested on the orders of the Ashanti Regional Minister because he allegedly defied his directive to restore power to the school.

Speaking to JoyNews, Mr Mensah stated that although the university adhered to the agreed schedule, the ECG disconnected the university, claiming the action was taken by a national task force, adding that the university was disconnected despite the facility using prepaid meters.

"This agreement was between the ECG and the Ashanti East Region and Kumasi Technical University.

"Parties agreed that 60% of ECG bills owed by Kumasi Technical University from August 2023 to December 2023 will be paid two weeks every month.

Read also: We are yet to receive an apology from Ashanti Regional Minister – ECG

"If KSTU is unable to secure a letter from the Ministry of Finance and the government's commitment to pay the debt, then they [KSTU] must reach an acceptable debt-scheduled agreement with ECG not later than January 31, 2024.

"The ECG reserves the right to take debt recovery action against KSTU without further notice when this agreement is breached," he said.

On the back of this, Mr Mensah stated that on April 11, 2024, he received a distress call from the Chairman of the Council of Kumasi Technical University, reporting that their power had been disconnected the previous day despite their agreement with ECG.

He said he then contacted Mr Wiafe, who signed the agreement on behalf of the ECG, and upon learning that the university was not defaulting on the payment plan, he decided to involve the police to investigate the matter further.

“So I asked him if KSTU was defaulting on the payment plan, and he said no so I got worried and said if that’s the case, then I will ask the police to invite you to go and write a statement which we will use in the future if the need arises,” Mr Mensah added.  

Meanwhile, workers of the ECG in the Ashanti region have halted their revenue mobilisation drive due to safety concerns.

The Chairman of the ECG Senior Staff Ashanti West, John Mensah, expressed fear that the conduct of the Ashanti Regional Minister could embolden members of the public to attack the staff.