ECG staff walkout during Ashanti Regional Minister’s speech at May Day event

Tensions erupted at May Day celebrations in the Ashanti Region when employees of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) walked out during a speech by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, on Wednesday, May 1.

Staff were protesting against the minister’s decision to cause the arrest of his Regional Manager and his failure to apologize for that action.

Bismark Adomah, national vice president of the ECG Senior Workers Union, stated that the company would cease all interaction with the Minister unless an official apology was made and the case was withdrawn immediately.

“As you know, we already have a problem with him. He has done something that the labor front is not happy with. At first, the workers’ front demanded that we not even appear. But we believe that this is our program and we must represent it. Since he said that he is not ready to fulfill everything we ask of him, we don’t even want to listen to him. So this is just a peaceful protest and we’re not going to listen to what you say. If he is done with his speech, we will return.”

In addition to this protest, the ECG workers’ union threatened to disconnect the private residence of the Ashanti regional minister if it is discovered that he owes the company for the energy consumed.

This threat emerged after the regional minister, Simon Osei Mensah, denied allegations that he owes electricity bills on some of his private residences.

Osei Mensah clarified that apart from his residence in Jachie, all his other properties have prepaid meters.

However, the ECG Senior Staff Association-Ashanti West, represented by President Yussif Osmanu Abdulai, stated on Luv FM that the power company is currently reconciling the meter readings of the minister’s residence.

If it is discovered that you owe, they will not hesitate to cut off the power supply to your house.