The Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer has clarified reports that power supply to the Ministry was disconnected due to indebtedness to the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG).

According to the legislator, the Energy Ministry operates on a prepaid system, hence, the allegation is untrue. He said it is impossible for anyone running on the prepaid system to become indebted to the ECG.

Rather, he explained that his outfit encountered a technical challenge and had to call on the ECG's Managing Director to intervene to offer assistance.

“There was a technical problem that led to our lights going off on that particular day, for which we sought the intervention of the ECG’s Managing Director to intervene," he explained.

Mr Mercer made this disclosure on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, to the host, Bernice Abu-Baidoo Lansah.

On March 14, it was reported that the ECG had disconnected power supply to the Energy Ministry, an incident that plunged the entire Ministry into darkness for almost half a day. 

Sources had it that the power was restored to the Ministry after it paid its debt in full.

It would be recalled that March 20, the ECG underwent a massive disconnection operation in a bid to mobilise revenue, as the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, disclosed that the company is owed over GH¢5 billion from the month of September 2022 to February 2023.

Thus, Mr Mahama urged all agencies that are indebted to his outfit to pay their bill, with the caution that agencies that refused to settle their bills immediately would face the same consequence as the Energy Ministry.

Commenting on ECG's recent operation to retrieve monies being owed to them, Mr Mercer said that the exercise has been sanctioned by the Energy Ministry.

“The exercise that is being carried out by the ECG has the full support with the Ministry of Energy because it is important that we sustain our electricity generation,” Mr Mercer stated.

He added that the revenue generated by the ECG will enable it to pay the other agencies that are in the energy distribution value chain.

The legislator highlighted the implications of ECG failing to pay its suppliers, saying that it would pose a serious threat to the economy.