Staff of the Accra East branch of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday morning embarked on a strike in protest against the Managing Director of the company.

The workers are asking for the removal of the MD, Mr Kwame Agyeman Budu with the argument that he was "incompetent" and that his continuous stay in office will collapse the company.

In a radio interview on Accra based Citi FM, a customer who had gone to the Accra East branch to transact business but could not do so because of the strike, “I am here to seek clarity on some challenges I am having with my meter but when I arrived here I was told they are embarking on a demonstration. This will not help the customers.”

The ECG workers last two weeks initiated agitations asking for the removal of Mr Kwame Agyeman-Budu.

According to the workers, mainly from the junior and senior staff association, Mr Agyeman-Budu was "mismanaging" ECG, hence they want his immediate removal.

MD's reaction

Reacting to the workers initial agitation, Mr Agyeman-Budu, described the accusations and allegations against him as untrue.

He insisted the company, under his leadership initiated the one-day, one-service for new meters for customers.

He said claims that he did not approve the provision of adequate materials for the company’s operations is because there had been shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that most companies from whom they buy the materials folded up and are not producing.

According to him, accusations of lack of accessories for vendors are also unfounded because ECG does not procure accessories for vendors. Mr. Agyeman-Budu said it is also not true that he stopped revenue mobilisation in June 2020, explaining that government subsidized electricity for some months and instructed that no form of revenue or disconnection of power should be done, with other companies like VRA, Ghana Water, and GRiDco, also adhering to the directives.

On allegations of sidelining his three deputies, Mr. Agyeman-Budu said it is false that he did not involve them in decision making, since the Deputy Managing Director of Finance and Deputy Managing Director Human Resource are always around to advice and make positive suggestions on most of the things.