We’ll pay if you provide us proper bill – Manya Krobo NPP to PDS

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency is calling on authorities of the Power Distribution Company (PDS) in Tema to provide information on claims of overbilling and accumulated bills.

The party said residents in the area will pay the right bill when the utility service provider gives them the appropriate bill.

Last week, management of PDS in the Tema municipality undertook a disconnection exercise over the non-payment of bills, which led to clashes between the residents and the staff of PDS.

The residents contented that they had been overbilled and so the disconnection exercise was unfair.

One resident identified as Thomas Partey, a 24-year-old farmer died as a result of the clashes between the angry residents and the police who were called in to restore law and order.

The residents vandalized some properties in the process.

But addressing the media, the Assistant NPP Constituency Secretary and Assembly Member for Odumase North, Ayerh Kofi Zhando, said the way to permanently resolve the issue was to have PDS provide the right bill for residents.

He said the residents are ready to pay the bills they will be levied with but “the only thing we will not pay is overbilling, wrongful billing and unconsumed power billed to us. Those are the things we say we will not pay.”

Ayerh Kofi Zhando further decried the politicization of the issue.

The Eastern Regional Police Command has given assurances that it is “thoroughly” investigating the disturbances.

DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, the Eastern Regional Public Affairs Director who signed a Police statement on the matter called on the public to remain calm as investigations continue, indicating that the police will follow due processes.

He also urged the public to volunteer relevant information that would aid the police’s work.