ECG Ashanti west uncovers 74 illegal connections

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ashanti West Region, has uncovered 74 illegal connections during the first quarter of 2024.

The illegal connections were discovered during day and night monitoring exercise which saw the Revenue Protection team visit hotels, households, hostels, cold stores, restaurants and some institutions to fish out customers who had connected to the national grid illegally and using power for free.

The exercise which also saw the team check the integrity of meters recouped an amount of GH Cedis 598,666 from the 74 illegal connections.

He added that the exercise which was conducted in the power distribution company’s operational areas like Santase Apre, Ahodwo, Abuakwa, Offinso, Kronum, Sokoban, Patase, and Kwadaso was to audit the electricity connections, check the integrity of meters and service cables used by customers.

He bemoaned the replicate effects of illegal connections on the revenue mobilisation of the company adding it cripples the company’s efforts to embark on projects aimed at enhancing service delivery, that will inure to the benefit of customers.

“As a company, we have to pay our suppliers like GRIDCO, VRA and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) when we purchase power from them to distribute to our cherished customers, hence consuming power illegally prevents the company from getting money to pay these key players in the electricity supply chain,” he added.

He therefore cautioned the general public to desist from illegal connections, which is a criminal act and liable to prosecution, according to Executive Instrument (EI) 38 of the Appointment of Public Prosecution Instrument (2010).