Lockdown extended, government to absorb electricity bills for the poor, others to enjoy 50% slash

President Akufo-Addo on Thursday evening, addressed the nation  to update the nation on measures his government has taken against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In his 4th address to the nation last month, he announced a two weeks partial lockdown in parts of the country in a move to contain the spread of the virus.

In his 5th address on April 5, he said a determination will be made in the coming week as to whether or not to extend the duration of the 14-day lockdown.

There are reports that with the cases of infected persons rising to 313 with six deaths, the President is likely to announce an extension of the lockdown.

Nana Addo said that the government will fully cover the bills of low-income consumers of electricity in the country for April, May and June

The remaining consumers who fall outside of this category will enjoy a 50 percent reduction in the cost of electricity for the same period.

The President disclosed this in his sixth national address to the nation on the novel coronavirus on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

“We have decided further measure of mitigation for Ghanaians for the next three months… Government will fully absorb electricity bills for the poorest of the poor, ie: lifeline consumers. This will cover persons who consume 0 to 50-kilowatt hours per month for this period. This forms part of relief interventions by the state amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Other categories of consumers will enjoy a 50 percent discount within the same period. For all other consumers, residential and commercial, the government will absorb 50 percent of your electricity bill for this period using your March 2020 bill as the benchmark,” he noted.