President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo during his 6th address to the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic announced a relieve on electricity to support individuals and businesses with a full cover on the bill of low-income consumers and 50% to consumers who fall outside the category.
However, cement manufacturing and steel companies located within the Tema Free Zones enclave say they have been denied of such support from the government which is seriously affecting their business.
The affected parties which include CIMAF Ghana Ltd, CBI Ghana Limited, United Steel Company Ltd and Rider Steel Company Ltd are seriously lamenting that Enclave Power Company (EPC), the energy supplier within the enclave only gave 22% rebate of its April 2020 bill instead of 50%, a situation which is seriously affecting their production considering the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses.
Speaking to the media, the Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana, who doubles as the Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries Tema, Rev. Dr George Dawson-Ahmoah, described the situation as unfortunate the attitude of the energy supplier (Enclave Power Company) and called on the government to as a matter of urgency intervene to salvage the situation.
He said, “This is absolutely an unfair trade practice and does not augur well for fair competition because other cement players and Steel companies outside the enclave are enjoying the 50% rebate under ECG. We have written to EPC to rectify the anomaly and till now no practical resolution has been given to the affected parties”.
Rev. Dr Dawson-Ahmoah on behalf of the AGI applauded the government on the electricity relieve, a move they observed will salvage businesses from possible collapse due to the catastrophic nature of the Covid-19 pandemic on economic activities and however appealed to them to call the Enclave Power Company to order to ensure the affected parties enjoy the full 50% cover on electricity as instructed.
