The Power Ministry says it has for the moment excluded critical categories of customers from pre-payment metering and ongoing mass disconnection exercise by power distributor, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The Ministry has lauded ECG for the mass disconnection, saying it was a step in the right direction to collect outstanding bills owed it by various categories of customers.

“Whilst we commend ECG in that regard, we wish to bring to your attention, Government’s decision to temporarily exclude certain critical categories of customers from pre-payment metering and the mass disconnection exercise. These include critical installations in the health, security and educational institutions,” said a release from the Power Ministry.

The ECG last week Monday, June 20 begin a nationwide disconnection exercise in a bid to retrieve outstanding debts owed it by consumers.

The move comes on the back of attempts by government to privatise the state power distributor. Government currently owes ECG GHÈ»950 million while private individuals owe GH¢650 million, making a total of about GHC1.6 billion.

Read the press release below.