Nene Atiapa III pointing to the meter in his palace
The battle between Samuel George Nartey, the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency and the Ningo Traditional Council seems to be far from over following accusation that the Ningo chief is an electricity thief.
Sam George further muddied the waters with an accusation that Nene Karno Atiapa III, the Acting President of the Ningo Traditional Area, has been engaging in the theft of power, thereby causing financial loss to the state.
According to him, Nene Karno Atiapa, who doubles as the Mankralo of the area, has connected power illegally to the palace directly from the national grid without the current going through any meter.
The NDC candidate stated that he had been reliably informed by officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Tema that the chief drove away staff of the Enforcement Unit of the ECG, saying he did not want them to install any meter at the palace.
The NDC candidate, styling himself as Communications specialist to the President at the Flagstaff House, made the allegation to DAILY GUIDE when reacting to matters rising from his comments against the traditional ruler, who has 33 years’ experience as Mankralo of the Ningo Traditional Area.
He further threatened to expose Nene Atiapa if he dared him.
Sam George quizzed, “Do you know what happened before he called you to grant you the interview? The Enforcement Unit went from Tema to his house because he has connected himself to the national grid without paying any bill; there is no meter in his house.
“He has connected that whole house. When you go there, there are about four air conditioners at the hall, all of them are on and he is not paying electricity bill. Even at Manhyia they pay bill.
Sam George therefore asked DAILY GUIDE to investigate the allegation made against the chief.
But a visit to the palace by this reporter showed a contrary situation, as there was a meter connected to the power supplied to the place.
The meter, with a cover on it, was positioned at the left corner of the palace with a case covering it to prevent rainwater from getting into it.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, Nene Atiapa III denied claims that he had illegally connected the palace to the national grid.
He expressed surprise at the accusation and asked Sam George to be mindful of his words against him.
According to him, Sam George is only interested in dragging him into partisan politics but as a chief he would not do so.
From Vincent Kubi, Ningo