Mr. Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi
The General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU), Mr. Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, has said the union has continued to urge management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to employ meter readers on full time basis.
This, he said, is because of the criticalness of their work. He was speaking to the press at the maiden National Divisional Conference of the ECG Meter Readers Union at the PUWU Conference and Hospitality Centre at Kasoa in the Central Region.
Mr. Adumatta Nyantakyi believes that a permanent employment of the ECG meter readers will increase the workers’ commitment towards the job and also ensure they do their work more diligently.
According to him, the move will put an end to many of the illegalities since metre readers will be more dedicated and also avoid falling prey to the temptation to take bribes from customers for illegal connection of power.
“We have had meetings with the management of the ECG to explain the need to employ these meter readers on permanent basis. We know how important the work they do is to the sustainability of the ECG,” Mr. Nyantakyi reiterated.
For his part, the Director of Customer Service of the ECG, Mr. Abraham Anokye Abebrese disclosed that the power company is running at a 30% loss, which is making it impossible for the company to stay afloat with its revenue. This, according to him, is as a result of the various forms of theft and illegalities.
Mr. Anokye Abebrese therefore advised all ECG meter readers in the country to distance themselves from all forms of thefts and rather help the company catch individuals who are stealing from the company. He urged the metre readers to report all forms of illegalities on the field so that the appropriate departments can follow up.
“Meter readers are very important to revenue collection for the ECG because they are the people who go to customers homes to check and bring us the data we use in billing. Meter reading is a very important function within the value chain of every utility company, with the ECG not being an exception,” he said.
Some meter readers who also spoke to the press said most of them do not have valid identification cards to serve as proof when they go on the field, adding that this makes it difficult for them to effectively discharge their duties since they are usually disrespected by customers.
They also indicated that they are often undermined by the company since they are not recognised as employees. The meter readers also lamented over their poor contract salaries which they said makes the job unattractive.