There is mounting tension in some communities in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality as some residents of Nuaso, a community in the municipality are accusing the military detachment who are assisting the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to install prepaid meters of assault.
The residents allege that the team attacked and severely subjected some of the residents to beatings, even though they did not resist the installation of the meters.
The unprovoked attacks have left many injured while others live in fear.
One of the female victims of the attack explained that “when they came, I was preparing food in the kitchen. They said I should enter my room and I said I was cooking so I cannot go with them. The moment I said I cannot go, they took their cane and started beating me. They said we are going to come again, and we will come and beat you more than this.”
Ebenezer Teye Padi who also sustained injuries to the face and back alleged that one of the soldiers hit his head with the butt of his rifle while sitting with friends.
“We have a resting place, we sit there. We saw the military men coming towards us, they didn’t ask us any questions and they started beating us up. Anybody they saw roaming about, it meant that you were their enemy.
“Nobody told us that ECG and military men are coming to us so if you are a resident you will ask them what they are doing here. That is our mistake. Look at my back, they hit my head with their gun,” he said.
Meanwhile, there is general light out in the Yilo and Manya Krobo Municipalities where lights were restored after the ECG took them off the national grid for more than three weeks following a disagreement between the residents and the power distributor over the installation of prepaid meters.
In a related development, ECG in response to the accusation has condemned the incident, noting that “these attacks are unfortunate situations.”
“The team has withdrawn from Nuaso Old Town,” ECG stated.
Explaining what accounted for the attacks, ECG said “in Nuaso Old Town, there was resistance. One woman threatened to pour hot oil on the ECG personnel and the Military as well.”
According to ECG, “a crowd started amassing around one ECG Team. The Military was able to retrieve a cutlass from one of those amassing around the ECG people.”
“There have been reports of constant verbal abuses and attacks on the personnel doing the installation in Nuaso Old Town.”
ECG, however, called for peace and calm so that their personnel can be able to discharge their duties peacefully.
