Management of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) are expected to meet workers who have declared a sit-down strike.
The workers are protesting huge debts owed the company by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), VALCO and NEDCO.
According to figures from the Senior Staff and the Divisional Union of GRIDCo, ECG and NEDCo owe about GH₵607 million and GH₵177 million respectively while VALCO and PDS owe over US$32 million and GH₵94 million respectively.
They say the debt is adversely affecting their operations.
According to them, the strike has become necessary after government ignored their notices and petitions concerning the matter.
“We expect that at least once the time lines have been given us, there will be some engagement and there hasn’t been any engagement to that effect.
“Honestly, this thing [strike] was supposed to come on on the 4th (December) but because we had sent a petition we decided to wait. But now it’s about eight days and we don’t know what is happening”.
He also dismissed fears GRIDCo will cut power supply to its consumers.
“We’re not putting off lights. I must put on record that GRIDCo is not putting off power as a way of strike. We’re saying that power will continue to flow in the lines but when there’s a problem, that is where the sit down strike is effective. We’re not putting off power” he said.
Management calls for a meeting with staff
Management of the company says it will ensure there is no interruption in power transmission.
Managing Director of GRIDCo Jonathan Amoako Baah said there is a road map to addressing the concerns of the workers.
“We’re committed to resolving this issue so that Ghanaians will not experience interrupted power supply. We consistently continue to engage the staff groups and other related parties and we have a road map to reach a conclusion on the issues they’re talking about. Additionally, majority of the demands by the staff have been met by management as a sign of goodwill
“We have come a long way from what the situation was before and we’re confident that the issues will be resolved or are being resolved. So what i will ask the leadership of the staff groups is that they should come and sit down with us at the round table because they had suggested that they want to meet us. We are open they can come so that we have a meeting so that we can conclude on the matter” he said.