Around 4,000 customers in the Kwabenya municipality of the Greater Accra Region are facing power outages, as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has disconnected their meters, alleging that they were stolen from the company's vault and sold to unsuspecting customers.

According to the ECG, some third-party workers were involved in pilfering these meters.

Nii Sapei, a spokesperson for the affected customers, shared his distress on the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM hosted by Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman on Monday, February 5, 2024.

He revealed that he obtained his meter through an acquaintance who worked for the company, and for the past five years, he used it without any issues.

However, a task force from ECG visited his premises, claiming that the meter was stolen.

To his surprise, he was asked to pay around GHS1,900 for reconnection and an Energy Commission permit.

Mr Sapei questioned why innocent consumers like him were being penalised instead of the company holding its workers accountable for the theft.

He expressed frustration over the past five days during which ECG customers in Kwabenya have been left without electricity.

This incident occurred as part of Operation No Free Consumption initiated by ECG on February 1, 2024.

The operation involves disconnecting power to customers who have been using electricity without making payments.

ECG has warned of potential prosecution for those found engaging in this practice.

The two-week exercise is aimed at updating customer details, collecting arrears, and addressing non-payment issues in specific areas.

ECG Director of Public Affairs, Mr William Boateng, explained that the nationwide meter audit is aimed at reducing losses, particularly due to tampering, among others, such as obsolete metres.

He emphasised that the audit is not intended to inconvenience customers.

Mr Boateng mentioned that some of the meters in Kwabenya may not be certified ECG meters, potentially procured from middlemen involved in selling meters from the government's Self-Help Electrification Projects (SHELP) in urban areas.

Despite doubts expressed by the affected customers and Mr Sapei, Mr Boateng pledged to seek clarity on the situation in Kwabenya.

He highlighted the ECG's efforts to address non-payment challenges and mentioned previous successful campaigns to recover outstanding payments from defaulters.