The Energy Ministry has warned other state institutions that are indebted to the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and other power distributing companies to pay their debt or expect disconnections to the national grid in 2020.

In an interview with Joy News, Communication Officer of the Energy Ministry, Nana Kofi Oppong Damoah said the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) will have the full backing of government to their debtors.

“Those who are customers of ECG and NEDCO should also be on the alert that the state agencies that are dealing in power supply in the country are very serious and they are going to come after everybody that owes them,” he stressed.

GRIDCo on Monday disconnected Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) from the national grid, after the failure of the company to settle over $30million outstanding debt to the power transmitter.

In a press statement, GRIDCo explained that the decision was made by the Management of GRIDCo after several attempts to get VALCO to honour its payment obligations failed.

It added, “The disconnection is part of ongoing debt collection measures to mobilise the needed funds to support its operations.”

Following the disconnection of VALCO by GRIDCo, Mr Damoah stated the disconnection should serve as a wakeup call to VALCO and other indebted institutions.

He, however, added power has been restored at VALCO following the ministry's intervention adding, discussions are underway to address the impasse.

“In as much as GRIDCo has their challenges and they are rightfully due the amount of money they are demanding from VALCO, VALCO also has their peculiar set of challenges that the Ministry is aware of.

“So we have done a slight intervention to ensure that the ongoing discussions which have been started for a while are not brought to any acrimonious end,” he added.