The Kwabenya District of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), in collaboration with the police has begun an operation to stop power theft and illegal connections in the area.
The exercise that will take place within the Ga-East District of the Greater Accra Region, will see ECG staff and police visiting homes and shops to engage customers about power connection, usage and supply.
Briefing journalists on Monday, the General Manager, Revenue Mobilisation of ECG, Mr Michael Twum-Barima Boadu, said the team will visit homes and costumers to identify individuals who are unlawfully using power.
“During our operations, we will cross check to see the validity of the meter and all the units consumed. We have realised that some metres have been by-passed due to the usage of high consuming power gadgets like air conditioners, refrigerators, coolers and boilers”, he said.
Mr Boadu said electricity to Power Plaza hostel in the District with 35 air conditioners was disconnected, but it was restored a few days later and upon a tip-off by some residents, police patrol team arrested the perpetrators and they were served with electricity bill.
He cautioned customers to desist from illegal power usage, saying “it’s criminal and causes huge financial loss to the company and nation.”
Mr Boadu appealed to the public to report persons engaging in illegal electricity connections to the ECG.
He said a ‘name and shame’ approach will be used to deter people from engaging in illegal electricity connections.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY