The Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University is Expected to Make a Monthly Payment of Ghc10,000 to the Northern Electricity Company Limited for a Period of 96 Months or Eight Years in order to settle Electricity Bills Owed the Company. This was a Directive Issued by the Auditor General During the 2022 Audit Year.

It can be recalled that During a mass disconnection exercise along the year, several institutions were affected including the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Wa Nursing Training College, Wa High Court etc.

Unpaid Electricity bills

Section 7 of the Public Financial Management Act ,2016 (Act 921),
demands that a Principal Spending Officer shall manage the resources received, held or disposed of by or on account of the covered entity.

The Ministry of Education, through NCTE (now GTEC) in a letter
referenced NC/D.12(L)/V.5 dated 24 October 2019 also informed all Public Tertiary Education Institutions to use 34% internally generated funds (IGF)
capping to pay utility bills.

We noted from our review of the financial records that the University was indebted to Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to the tune of Gh¢964,143 in respect of unpaid electricity bills as at 31 December 2022.

The above situation could result in disconnection of power supply by the NEDCo and disrupt academic activities in the University.
We recommended to Management to settle their indebtedness to NEDCO
to avoid disconnection.

Management stated that the University was making efforts to settle the outstanding electricity bills. The University has an agreement with NEDCO to make a payment of ten thousand cedis every month to clear the arrears.

Source: Upper West Media App