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Utility companies have threatened to disconnect educational institutions in the Upper East Region due to their inability to settle their bills.

The educational institutions to be affected are all second cycle institutions and educational directorates in the region.

The utility agencies are the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Volta River Authority (VRA).

This came to light during a meeting in Bolgatanga on Monday with the Director General of Education, Dr Jacob Korh, and managers of education to interact on pertinent issues confronting education delivery in the region.

The Regional Director of Education, Mr Emmamuel S. Zumakpeh, said had it not been the intervention of the Regional Minister, Mr James Zuugah Tiigah, the institutions would have been disconnected.

He said it was very difficult to understand why the government, which was paying the bills to the utility agencies should shift the old debts it owed the agencies to the educational institutions to settle.

The Regional Director who said the situation would have a serious repercussion on education delivery when not addressed, appealed to the government to settle the debt.

Mrs Francisca Yizura Afoko, the Headmistress of the Navrongo Senior High School, who narrated her ordeal, said she had to go down on her knees to plead with the GWCL when they threatened to disconnect water from her institution.

“Without water and electricity we cannot work. It will also have a serious health impact on the students and the staff in the school,” she said.

Dr Korh, who commended the Regional Minister for intervening, assured the institutions that the Ghana Education Service would hold further discussions with the Regional Minister to see how to help address the situation.

The utility agencies have disconnected government institutions indebted in the region including the Ghana News Agency which has been disconnected for the past three months.