Accra Academy plunged into darkness after ECG disconnection over unpaid arrears

The Accra Academy Senior High School (SHS) has been plunged into darkness after the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cut off electricity supply due to unpaid arrears.

The entire campus was in total darkness as of 08:40 pm on Monday, February 19, forcing students to rely on torch lights to study according to a media media practitioner who had visited the school.

Speaking to Accra-based Citi News, an unnamed teacher expressed serious concern, describing the situation as unprecedented in his teaching career.

According to the teacher, he learned from a colleague about the arrival of ECG officials at the school to disconnect the power owing to outstanding debts. Even the teachers on campus, using prepaid meters, had their power supply cut off.

The teacher disclosed that the ECG officials, claiming to be from the head office, remained firm in their decision to disconnect the power despite pleas and attempts at negotiation.

Expressing worry about the students’ safety and the potential impact on teaching and learning, the teacher appealed to the Electricity Company to restore the school’s power supply.

Reflecting on the distressing situation, the teacher lamented, “Today is the saddest day in my life as a teacher with over 31 years of experience. I have never witnessed anything like this before. We received a call that ECG officials were on campus to disconnect the school due to some indebtedness. What pains me is that the teachers staying on campus, who use prepaid meters, have also been disconnected. Currently, we have about 3,000 students in school, and this is the situation we find ourselves in. If something happens to any of the students, who will be held responsible?”
We called the officials, and they insisted that they were following orders from above to disconnect us due to the amount we owe. We don’t even know the exact amount, and we are not the ones supposed to pay it. Despite our efforts to prevent this situation, they never listened. I appeal to the ECG leaders to consider the students. I urge them to come back and take the necessary steps.”