The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has expressed confidence in the willingness of board members of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to pay the GH¢5.8 million fine imposed on them.

This fine was levied on Tuesday, April 16, due to the board's failure to furnish a load-shedding timetable following a series of power outages experienced between January and March 2024.

Among the board members affected by the fine are the ECG Managing Director, Samuel Mahama Dubik, and eight others.

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Notably, the current Deputy Energy Minister, Herbert Krapah, who chairs the board, will not be impacted as his tenure falls outside the period covered by the regulatory orders.

However, Keli Gadzekpo, who recently resigned as board chairman, will be subject to the fine, along with Chief Whip Frank Annor Dompreh and five other individuals.

The fine amount is stipulated to be deposited into a designated fuel account, jointly managed by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance, on or before May 30, 2024.

This measure is aimed at holding accountable those responsible for overseeing the ECG during the period of power outages.

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Dr. Eric Kofi Obutey, the Director of Research and Corporate Affairs at the PURC, remains optimistic that the affected ECG board members will uphold their reputation and fulfill their obligation to pay the fine before the May 30 deadline.

He expressed confidence in the integrity of these individuals, describing them as noble members of society who would not shirk their responsibility to comply with the regulatory measures imposed on them.

“We see noble people, people who are law-abiding, people who speak to the issues as they are, and will be bold to abide by the rules of the game and maybe make the payment. But if that is not done, I am sure the commissioners will come up with a new strategy and that, when we get to that point, we will communicate that to the public," he said.