Appiah Kusi Adomako, the West Africa Director of CUTS International, a research and public policy think tank, believes the protracted impasse between residents of Kroboland and the Electricity Company of Ghana can be resolved through dialogue.
Mr. Kusi Adomako is confident the parties involved can find a common ground when they go to the negotiation table.
“We need to find a lasting solution to these issues. They can be solved through dialogue. ECG needs to bring together all the key stakeholders, the opposition, and invisible forces, among others. They all need to be identified and brought together. This should be open to the public. This will help their followers know that at least they have not taken entrenched positions but are willing to dialogue,” he said on the Point of View on Citi TV.
“A public forum will allow them to share their grievances, present the facts and try to negotiate.”
He urged ECG to find a way to restore power in the community while it tries to find common ground with the opposition.
“There appears to be some bad blood between the two. There are trust issues here and there. Whilst the ECG goes about these peace resolution methods, it can take steps to restore the light.”
“We cannot deny people their rights to access electricity. Some urgently need the power to work effectively.”
Communities in the Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo Municipalities have been off the national grid following an alleged exchange of gunshots between the military and some residents at Nuaso.
There have been tensions between the resident and the ECG in recent times over the installation of prepaid metres.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the gunshots were targeted at workers of ECG who were in the community to disconnect power from the main transformer which was serving a number of illegally connected homes in the area.
The development, which is fast becoming a matter of safety and security, has attracted the attention of all stakeholders who seek a speedy resolution to the issue.
The Eastern Regional Security Council is set to convene a “crucial” meeting to resolve the protracted impasse between residents of Kroboland and the Electricity Company of Ghana.
The REGSEC meeting is expected to address the concerns of all parties involved.
Meanwhile, personnel of security agencies will be doing some patrols in the area.
ECG will also be monitoring installations once clearance is given by the security apparatus.
These are geared towards ensuring that power will be restored soon.