General News of Monday, 2 September 2002

Source: Donald Dankyi

I've made no payment to ECG - Aryeh

THE GENERAL Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Josiah Aryeh, has categorically denied ever paying over ?6 million to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

“I have never paid a penny to the ECG or to anybody,” he said, adding: “it was the landlord of the house he rented who paid ECG by Bankers Draft.”

The National Concord had reached Dr. Ayeh for him to clarify reports that he had lodged a complaint with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) about the reported payment.

“The property does not belong to me, the property belongs to the University of Ghana and the ECG were paid money which they received and as a result they have connected power to the house.” Aryeh explained.

Contacted on the phone to confirm the transactions, a man in the ECG Public Relations Unit, disclosed that management had instituted an enquiry to find out which of their contractors had effected the re-connection. The Public Relations Officer, who declined to mention his name to the National Concord, made it clear that they had also referred the case to the police for investigation.

On the allegation of this impending prosecution, Dr. Aryeh said: “I’m ready for any action from the government’s end, including the ECG. I’ll defend myself definitely”.

He told the Concord that he was ready to defend himself in the court of law.