Ghana: More deaths feared as power cut hits hospitals over non-payment of bills.
Africa News Broadcast 
An attempt by an electricity firm in Ghana to recover debt from customers including state-run hospitals by cutting power has resulted in the death of two newborns.
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) is on a collision course with St Anne’s Hospital in Damongo, which is more than 630km (390 miles) by road from the capital, Accra, over a debt of more than $370,000.
The NEDCo task force was ruthless and merciless by taking the community health facility off the national grid, leading to the death of two babies who were on blood transfusion, medical experts say.
“That was a cruel act and came as a shock to us because this is a health facility, regardless of the arrears we need to settle,†Dr Gbeadese Ahmed of St. Anne’s Hospital tells The Africa Report. “You cannot replace life, but we can always have a way to clear this debt.â€
The development led to a total shutdown of the hospital – managed by the government – for some days, affecting healthcare delivery in the deprived community. It took the intervention of the local MP, who doubles as a cabinet minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, after paying off part of the hospital’s debt to get NEDCo to restore power.
“This is so unfortunate,†said Saeed Muhazu Jibril, the Savannah regional minister. “I have met with both parties because cutting power to the entire hospital was not part of the plan. We’ve made some payments, although NEDCo says it’s not enough. We will continue to discuss.â€
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