President John Mahama has directed that prepaid meters be installed in the official residences of all Ministers and Presidential staffers.

All members of the executive are also expected to pay their utility bills.

Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, indicated in a press statement that the directive was issued at Thursday's cabinet meeting after the President realised during discussions on the new utility tariffs that there were inconsistencies in the policy covering the payment of utility bills by Ministers.

"While utility bills of some Ministers were paid by their Ministries, others paid their bills themselves", the statement said.

As part of the President's directive, arrears of bills prior to an appointee moving into residence would be debited to the various ministries and the prepaid meters installed.

The directive, according to Ayariga, will help improve the financial health of the utility companies and reduce the huge debts owed them by government.

Mahama Ayariga told Joy News that the directive is aimed at ensuring that the ministers also feel the impact of the recent tariff hikes with the general public.

The policy is expected to be extended to cover other categories of senior public servants when the 2014 budget is presented to Parliament next month.