ECG’s billing system collapsed under customer load – Former MD

Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has revealed that the company’s billing system failed to capture millions of customers as its client base grew, leaving revenue and data management in disarray.

Speaking on Joy FM on Thursday, April 10, Mr Mahama recounted how a system health check shortly after he took office in 2022 exposed deep flaws in ECG’s operations.

“When I assumed office in 2022 as Managing Director, one of the first things I did was to conduct a health check on the company,” he said. “What I found was that although there had been massive growth in the number of ECG customers, this was not properly reflected in the company’s data.”

Mr Mahama said the billing infrastructure, known as the Commercial Management System (CMS), introduced via a World Bank-backed project, was overwhelmed by the expanding customer base.

“The billing system had its own deficiencies. When it hit the 4.5 million customer mark, new customers being added were not being captured in the billing system. They were hanging,” he explained.

He noted that the technical failure not only created gaps in data but also significantly affected the company’s ability to bill and collect revenue efficiently.

His revelations come at a time when the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders are raising concerns over potential moves to privatise ECG, citing inefficiencies and poor management as justification.

Source: channel1news