The Accra East Region of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has recovered GH¢10.3 million from customers who engaged in various forms of illegal connections.
The amount was recovered between January and November this year following an enforcement exercise which included meter inspection.
Addressing a press conference in Accra Wednesday, General Manager for the Accra East Region ECG, Bismark Otoo, said the amount was a summation of cost of power consumed within the period as well as penalties imposed on the culprits for the illegality.
“The region has recovered GH¢10,318,683 from January to November, 2023. This was realised through payments made by persons caught involved in illegal connection,” he stated.
Within the same period, he said units of 4,652 kwh was billed for customers within the region.
He therefore, called on ECG customers to desist from engaging in all forms of illegal connections activities, saying that, such practices was an impediments for the operations of the company and punitive for them as well, especially when caught.
Mr Otoo also encouraged the general public to inform ECG of any suspected illegal connection activities.
This year, he said the Accra East Region had invested more than GH¢20 million in 80 major development projects across its operational districts.
He explained that the projects included initiatives aimed at addressing various power supply challenges and to reinforce ECG’s commitment to improving power supply reliability and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Among the initiatives, Mr Otoo said was the installation of 50 new 200KVA transformers to alleviate
the strain on substations in certain areas of the region.
Also, the extension of low voltage supply to parts of Dodowa and Mampong districts, the conversion of weak and multi-jointed 11kv underground cables into overhead lines, and the upgrading of overloaded substations in parts of the region, were some of the initiatives undertaken within the period.
He explained that the projects also involved the replacement of sagging high tension (HT) lines, burnt HT poles, and weak insulators.
“The completed projects have already been commissioned and are now serving communities such
as Okpoi Gonno, Teshie Yomo Specs, Tseaddo, Teshie Guest Inn, Lakeside Estate, New Legon, East Legon Hills, Amrahia, Frafraha, Burma Camp, Oyarifa, and Pantang.
Efforts have been made to enhance the supply in certain areas of the region as several ongoing projects are on track to be completed before the upcoming Christmas holidays,” he added.
Despite financial constraints that resulted in the suspension of certain projects and the postponement of others, Mr Otoo was optimistic about undertaking further development projects in 2024 to further enhance customer satisfaction.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
