The Power Distribution Service (PDS) has waived over GHc 111 million in debt of residents of Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in the Eastern region after a week of unrest in the area.
Protests turned fatal when residents agitated over a PDS disconnection exercise in the area.
[contextly_sidebar id=”1Na21JuGh5ukiD49KDHxCZ4qhm11Ttu0″]But after a meeting to address the tensions, a road map emerged indicating that “PDS has cleansed the debt using the CMS software of Krobo areas from GHS 195, 725,500 down to GHc84,625624.87.”
The meeting producing the road map involved the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, the MP for the area, PDS and the assembly.
As a further compromise, PDS is willing to embark on some debt rescheduling which is to “be on the merit of each customer’s specific case.”
In turn, customers are expected to have begun payments “as a commitment to PDS.”
“Customers who are unable to pay one off can go to PDS for debt rescheduling plan. PDS has relaxed the 70 percent upfront payments for customers and would reschedule debts a minimum of six months and possible extension when the need is genuine,” the roadman indicated.
PDS has also asked the community to guarantee the safety of PDS staff after a week in which some of its personnel were attacked.
“PDS would consult senior authorities and move to restore all transformers if the staff and peace are guaranteed within any possible time.”
PDS had earlier revealed it had lost about GHc86 million in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality over the non-payment of bills by customers in the last five years.
The unrest over the disconnection exercise led to at least one death, many injuries and the arrest of 35 persons.
About 100 security personnel were deployed to the district to curb rioting in the area.
The deceased was hit by a stray bullet during an attack on a police team providing protection at the Municipal Assembly Office on Wednesday afternoon.