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The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has issued ultimatums to hospitals with outstanding bills, threatening disconnection from the national grid if payments are not made within 72 hours.
A collective total of 91 healthcare facilities nationwide are indebted to ECG, with an accumulated outstanding amount of GH¢261 million.
Among the institutions at risk of disconnection are well-known hospitals such as the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, and Ridge Hospital in the Greater Accra region, as well as the Komfo Anokye and Manhyia Government Hospitals in the Ashanti region, Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta region, and Kibi Government Hospital in the Eastern region.
This measure is part of ECG’s broader strategy to recover debts from customers and strengthen its operational capabilities.
Grace Garshong, the Communications Manager for the ECG in the Ashanti Region, explained in an interview with Selorm Adonoo on Citi FM that issuing demand notices was the company’s final recourse. Despite regular billing and communication attempts, the hospitals have failed to settle their debts.
“We have now given them demand notices after they have received their bills for some time. And it is after 72 hours that if they do not pay, we will disconnect them,” said Garshong.
She emphasized that the decision to disconnect was not taken lightly, as the ECG had exhausted other avenues to resolve the outstanding payments.
Meanwhile, several hospitals across various regions are on the verge of disconnection:
Volta Region
Total GH¢15,163,879
– Notable facilities include Ho Teaching Hospital with an outstanding amount of GH¢5,808,989 and Sogakope District Hospital with GH¢1,437,822.
Accra East Region
Total GH¢66,643,680.32
– Prominent hospitals like the 37 Military Hospital owe GH¢33,477,392.71, while Kwabenya Hospital owes GH¢10,086,666.
Tema Region
Total GH¢8,227,299.48
– Among the hospitals listed are Battor Hospital with GH¢1,837,613 in arrears and Somanya District Hospital with GH¢1,352,341.
Accra West Region
Total GH¢55,782,569.71
– Notable facilities include Korle Bu Teaching Hospital with an outstanding amount of GH¢10,216,075 and Ridge Regional Hospital with GH¢41,595,921.
Central Region
Total GH¢21,313,839.75
– Significant hospitals include Central Regional Hospital with a combined debt of GH¢7,048,927 and Trauma Hospital Winneba with GH¢1,418,389.
Eastern Region
Total GH¢21,031,322
– Notable debts include Kibi Government Hospital with GH¢2,947,367 and St. Dominic Hospital with GH¢1,996,924.
Ashanti Region
Total GH¢50,045,753.72
– Notable among them is Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital with a staggering GH¢27,265,226 in outstanding payments.
Western Region
Total GH¢22,312,253
– Hospitals such as Takoradi Hospital owe GH¢3,509,295, while Tarkwa Government Hospital has an outstanding amount of GH¢9,499,254.
