Editorial
ECG PowerApp: A mixed bag of technical issues, uncredited payment concerns

Dear Editor,
On February 18, 2020, the former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, launched the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) PowerApp, a mobile application designed in-house by staff of ECG.
It was to improve its service delivery to its customers.
The development of the app also meant that customers of ECG would now have the opportunity to purchase power and pay bills using their mobile phones.
That means customers of ECG would no longer have to join long queues to purchase power, but could now do that at their own convenience and in the comfort of their homes.
According to the Communication Officer, the PowerApp has increased annual revenue growth for the company.
He said as of April 2024, the new application system had increased its annual revenue growth by 128 per cent as compared to the old system at negative seven per cent.
Despite these reasons for which the app was developed and the benefits it has brought to ECG, there have been growing concerns among a section of the public on its use.
Some have argued that they were not credited after using the app to recharge their prepaid meter while the money was deducted from their MoMo accounts.
Such experience has made some customers vow not use the app to recharge their prepaid meters but rather go to prepaid vendors nearby to purchase credit. Some are even prepared to travel to far places to purchase prepaid credits.
I think such experience does not speak well of ECG because it could affect public trust in the company in its service delivery. This is the more reason why the ECG has to take the concerns raised by its customers seriously.
Kofi Bruce,
Mampong
Editorial
Make Heritage Day celebration compulsory for workers
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to suggest that the celebration of Heritage Month is declared compulsory, especially for workers in state agencies.
It is very interesting watching broadcasters adorned in diverse traditional regalia on our screens, telling the stories of the various tribes in the country.
But away from the television sets, there is practically nothing to see in town suggesting the celebration of such an important activity.
Once in the month, we also see our school children celebrating the event by dressing to depict where they come from.
But just as was done with the Chocolate Day celebration, I wish to suggest that workers in state agencies are forced to partake in the event. Within that month, every working staff should be made to dress in African prints or ones that would show where they come from.
That, to a large extent would give people a lot of education about their ancestry and their cultural values.
I have a few friends that are Gas from the Greater Accra region but because their parents stayed in other regions and gave birth to them outside Accra, they have little or no idea about where they actually come from.
Some of these activities would go a long way to educate such people to know their real homes.
I expect the Ministry of Tourism to play an active role in the success of this exercise.
Stella Twum,
Central Region
Editorial
Make Heritage Day celebration compulsory for workers
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to suggest that the celebration of Heritage Month is declared compulsory, especially for workers in state agencies.
It is very interesting watching broadcasters adorned in diverse traditional regalia on our screens, telling the stories of the various tribes in the country.
But away from the television sets, there is practically nothing to see in town suggesting the celebration of such an important activity.
Once in the month, we also see our school children celebrating the event by dressing to depict where they come from.
But just as was done with the Chocolate Day celebration, I wish to suggest that workers in state agencies are forced to partake in the event. Within that month, every working staff should be made to dress in African prints or ones that would show where they come from.
That, to a large extent would give people a lot of education about their ancestry and their cultural values.
I have a few friends that are Gas from the Greater Accra region but because their parents stayed in other regions and gave birth to them outside Accra, they have little or no idea about where they actually come from.
Some of these activities would go a long way to educate such people to know their real homes.
I expect the Ministry of Tourism to play an active role in the success of this exercise.
Stella Twum,
Central Region