Residents of Teshie, a suburb of Accra are rejecting pre-paid meters supplied them by the Electricity Company Ghana to replace post-paid ones currently being used by the community. According to the residents, as a fishing and poor community they cannot afford to use the pre-paid meters because of what they say are the high tariffs they will be required to pay. Hundreds of youths in the community went on rampage last Wednesday disconnecting and vanderlised pre-paid meters fixed by the ECG. A resident in the community, Nii Maama told Asempa News that a petition to the ECG by the youth was rejected by the power authorities. He said the residents have channeled their grievances to the MP and Assembly Member but did not receive a favorable response. He hinted that several forums have been held over the matter where the youth expressed dismay about the prepaid meters but they reckoned the power authority in the area wants to force it on them. Meanwhile the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku constituency, Reuben Nii Nortey Dua expressed worry at the turn of events and has described the actions of the youth in the area as unacceptable. Nii Nortey Dua hinted that the meters and cables were fixed on government poles and not in people’s houses so nobody has the right to destroy itthem. “So nobody should support such acts", he emphasised. He said the incident must be condemned in no certain terms because it was wrong, bad and does not speak well of the people in general. Speaking to Asempa News on the state of affairs in the area after the actions of the youth, Nii Nortey Dua said before the meters were installed the people were educated and agreements made so he was surprised with the resistance by the youth. He noted that vandalizing the electricity cables and meters cannot solve the problem. The MP who is also Deputy Sports Minister insisted that the law must take its course because the facilities destroyed were government property and ought not to be destroyed by any individual or group of individuals. "We agree that it is a fishing community but not to the extent that people could cut electric cables purchased with the tax payers' money, what authority do they have to do that?’’ he questioned. Story: Twum Barimah/Asempa News/Ghana