Kumasi: The Ashanti West Region of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) successfully recovered an amount of GHc 7,079,477.54 in 2024 from customers who were found to have engaged in illegal power connections.
According to Ghana News Agency, the operation targeted 2,306 customers, including hotels, cold stores, factories, restaurants, and households. These customers were surcharged after being apprehended for illegal electricity connections, which resulted in financial losses for the company. Mr. George Amoah, the Ashanti West Regional General Manager, highlighted this issue during a media briefing in Kumasi.
Mr. Amoah emphasized that illegal power connections pose a significant challenge to the company, hindering its ability to generate sufficient revenue to pay key players in the electricity supply chain. He noted that the company is obligated to pay suppliers when purchasing power for distribution to customers, and illegal consumption disrupts this financial process.
To combat illegal activities, the Ashanti West Region of ECG has enlisted the services of a lawyer to prosecute those involved in unauthorized electricity connections. Mr. Amoah credited the lawyer's involvement as instrumental in recovering some of the funds.
In efforts to ensure a reliable and continuous electricity supply, the company invested a total of GHc 8,851,351.62 in 2024 on projects aimed at extending power to communities without electricity and improving existing systems in various areas. Upgrades included the installation of 40 transformers and the conversion of overhead networks to underground networks in select locations.
Additionally, significant expenditure was made on vegetation control activities, with GhS2,126,671.88 spent on bush clearing, tree cutting, and creating fire belts to fortify high tension and low voltage networks.
Despite these efforts, Mr. Amoah outlined ongoing challenges that disrupt quality service delivery. These include illegal connections, unauthorized meter activities, vandalism, cable destruction, right of way issues, and fire outbreaks. He urged citizens to report illegal connection activities to the ECG, offering a financial reward of six percent of the amount retrieved from offenders as an incentive for informers.
