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The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has expressed serious concerns over the growing rate of meter tampering across the country, which is contributing significantly to the company’s technical losses.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, February 3, 2025, the company disclosed that in Dansoman alone, about 10% of the 70,000 installed meters have been tampered with, causing them to under-record electricity consumption.
Legal Consequences for Offenders
Acting Managing Director of ECG, David Boadi Asamoah, issued a strong warning, emphasizing that those involved in such illegal activities would face legal consequences.
> “We will conduct thorough investigations, and there are laws in this country. After our investigations, law enforcement agencies like the police will take over.
Once the police complete their work, the case will proceed to court, where the law on the case will be applied because this is stealing—it’s a criminal offence.”
He further stressed that no one would be exempt from prosecution, regardless of their role in the illegal activity.
> “I must assure you that the ECG will not spare anybody, being it a contractor, an electrician or whosoever. If you are caught in this, you will not be spared. So from what we have seen, we will run after them, and the beneficiary will also have their share.”
Impact on ECG and the Economy
Asamoah lamented the severe impact of meter tampering on ECG’s financial stability, explaining that collusion between customers and some contract workers is causing significant revenue losses.
He noted that such unpatriotic behavior not only affects ECG’s ability to operate efficiently but also erodes the country’s economic progress.
> “This unpatriotic behaviour by customers who collude with contract workers of ECG to render meters dysfunctional is affecting our operations and, by extension, eroding the gains of the state.”
ECG’s Future Amid Privatization Plans
To curb its losses and improve efficiency, the government has initiated plans to privatize ECG. However, public opinion remains divided on the move, with concerns about the company’s struggles with illegal activities and power theft.
Amid these challenges, Asamoah called for a robust strategy to tackle system losses, ensuring that ECG can sustain its operations and contribute effectively to national development.
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