Rector at the Kumasi Polytechnic, Professor Nicholas Nsowah Nuamah says the institution cannot be blamed for its indebtedness to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
The institution owes the power distributor about 3 million cedis. It has not paid its electricity bills since January this year, which compelled the Electricity Company of Ghana to disconnect power supply to the school.
Public Relations Manager of the Ashanti Regional ECG, Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, told Joy News the ECG served the Polytechnic notice on several occasions and will not restore power to the institution until the amount owed is paid in full.
He confirmed that from January 2014 to date, the Kumasi Polytechnic has not paid its electricity bills. “We expect them to pay their bill in full. Until they make payment we will not reconnect them.”
But the polytechnic says it does not have the funds to pay for the outstanding debt.
According to Professor Nicholas Nsowah Nuamah, though government has directed all state enterprises to pay for electricity consumed, that excludes public educational institutions and hospitals.
He emphasized that it is not the responsibility of the Polytechnic to pay for its utilities.
“We never paid for electricity bills. Whenever we get the bills we send them to National Council for Tertiary Education, they submit to government and that money is paid…so I am surprised that ECG came and disconnected us.”
