The Ministry of Finance has released an amount of GH¢1.2 billion as part payment to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) for the freebies they gave out last year as part of the government’s measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a Daily Graphic report, ECG will receive GH¢1 billion for the free power they supplied to Ghanaians since the outbreak of the coronavirus last year whilst the Ghana Water Company Limited gets an amount of GH¢180 million.

A source at the Finance Ministry told Daily Graphic that the Minister-designate for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has set aside GH¢1.8 billion to settle the debts owed the aforementioned utility companies.

The Ministry, after doing the part payment of GH¢1.2billion has an outstanding GH¢632 million to pay to Ghana Water Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana.

The Daily Graphic noted that “in the event that the final bill from the two utility companies exceeds the over GH¢1.8 billion budget, the government would have to look for the additional money to pay.”

In April 2020, President Akufo-Addo announced that government will absorb water and electricity bill for Ghanaians for the next 3 months, that is, April, May, and June.

President Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation said, "the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. There will be no disconnection of supply."