Workers of the Power Distribution Services (PDS) want government to provide evidence to back claims of fraud leveled against the company in the concession agreement.

General Secretary of the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), Michael Nyantayi in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story said after carefully monitoring recent developments, everything points to the fact that no illegality was committed by PDS.

PDS took over some assets and operations of the ECG including electricity service distribution in all of ECG’s operational areas in Ghana.

The new arrangement was among other things expected to cut distribution losses to the barest minimum while delivering improved power services to Ghanaians.

However, the government on Wednesday night announced unceremoniously that PDS’s right to distribute power had been suspended.

“The decision follows the detection of fundamental and material breaches of PDS obligations in the provision of payment securities (Demand Guarantees) for the transactions which has been discovered upon further due diligence,” a government release said.

The release further revealed that the Electricity Company of Ghana had been directed to carry out duties which were being performed by the PDS until its suspension. All PDS accounts have also been frozen.

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah announced the suspension 

But the workers do not agree with government’s decision.

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Mr. Nyantakyi said the claims made by government concerning the concession are not substantial enough to warrant a suspension of the contract.

“So far, from the things that are emerging, I don’t see where PDS has acted fraudulently. Because it has been revealed that the premium to secure the guarantee was paid by PDS.

“But while they cannot run away from the actions of their agent, it doesn’t create the perception that this is a company that is acting with a fraudulent intention,” he said.

He sees government’s reaction as a rush and would have preferred if the issue was addressed more meticulously than is currently being done.

“If we take our time – unless we think that where we have reached we don’t want to continue with this concession so we want to find a way to end the agreement and we have seen one opportunity and we want to stand on it and break the whole agreement.”

He said the development has left workers in a state of confusion because they are not sure who they work for – PDS or ECG.

While workers have been asked to remain calm, “who is really calling the shots or giving directives on what to do,” Mr. Nyantakyi queried.

According to him, government has yet to communicate with workers on the way forward, a situation which is creating a lot of tension and an unhealthy environment.

Work to go on as normal as ECG takes over

The Information Minister has assured there will be no interruptions in electricity distribution during the period ECG takes over while investigations continue into the issue.

He said also salaries will not be affected but Mr. Nyantakyi doubts if that will be possible.

“Payment of salaries have been encouraging since PDS took over. July salaries were paid a week ago the critical issue is that of August where PDS no longer has access to funds.”

Granted that that is also taken care of the General Secretary said there is more to the running of the company than just the payment of salaries.

“What about the other activities related to the day-to-day supply and distribution of energy to various customers? What happens if staff have to go to the field, or materials are needed?

“These are arrangements we thought should have been properly outlined before the freezing of accounts so that things run seamlessly and there is no break,” he added.

He disclosed that already some institutions that deal with PDS are hesitating in dealing with staff as they are unsure of the company’s fate.