The Minister of Energy, Dr. Kwesi Nduom, has challenged the management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to provide better services to its customers in the country.

According to Dr. Nduom, the people have accepted the higher tariffs on power supply but are not getting reliable power supply even though, "higher tariffs go with efficiency and better provision of service."

He said the people had to accept the high tariffs involuntarily for the power that ECG supplies them because they have no choice than to accept them, raises the company has persistently been asking for over the years.

The energy minister threw the challenge when he paid his maiden visit to management of the ECG in Accra.

Dr. Nduom stressed that since the ECG is currently receiving higher tariffs from customers, it behoves the management in return, to ensure that customers receive efficient power supply from the company.

Explaining further, he said it was time for the management to ensure that when there is power fluctuation, and other interruptions, such problems be rectified on time in order to enhance mutual benefit for both parties.

"When you are going to cut off power supply, let the customers know ahead of time and when there is going to be a problem they must be informed," the minister said.

He added that certain problems are not the responsibility of his ministry to solve but rather those of the ECG officials.

Answering some questions from ECG officials concerning financial constraints facing the company, Nduom stated clearly that the problems facing the company are not financial but rather management problems urging the management to come out with innovative programmes to solve them.

Furthermore, he demanded better power supply to customers in every part of the country within a period of one year where people can testify of improved of services.

Sounding his warning to the management, he said the government would only provide financial support if it saw significant signs of improvement in the operations of the company.

Dr. Nduom said no one forced the managers to accept the job, they applied and accepted the conditions of service and therefore must be able to work under the prevailing conditions and provide better services.

"We demand the best from you," he said, "and will only support you as far as you can go."

The minister also revealed that his outfit would soon come out with a policy that would underline managing of power supply in the northern and southern sectors of the country.

In addition to this, he hinted that plans were under way to ensure private sector participation in power supply saying, "this is not privatisation."