The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has interdicted 13 staff at its Accra East District office over illegal power-related offences.

The 13 include Abraham Kum who was cited in JoyNews exposé ‘Power Thieves’ which captured some staff trading in unapproved meters sales.

The rest are Isaac Nii Noi Ashong, Christian Mensah, Henry Kwadwo Anim, Josephine Sackey, Cynthia Budu Arthur, Siyaba Senfin Kwaku, Anthony Asalu, Ibrahim Ismail Ali, Stephen Effah, Samuel Villa Odei, Abdul Aziz Rabiu, and Emmanuel Kwaku Dupey.

According to the investigations by JoyNews, a separate meter which costs a little over GH¢800 cedis was being sold by these individuals as high as GH¢2,500.

Again, the actions of these individuals enabled their power consumers to enjoy free electricity without the knowledge of ECG offices in most parts of the country.

Subsequently, the company began querying the staff cited in the exposé.

Also read: JoyNews exposes cartel that forged documents to sell unapproved meters

But fresh details picked up by JoyNews indicate that interdiction letters referencing the response to the queries have been sent out.

The letters sighted by JoyNews have management describing these responses as unacceptable.

"You are required to hold yourself in readiness for the committee of enquiry investigating the case," parts of the letters added.

The letters were dated between July and September this year.

The power-related offences include receiving meters without customers going through the mandatory process of payment for registration and service charges to the company, capturing prepaid meters without the appropriate identity card, capturing prepaid meters without due process and authorisation, using personal contacts to register customers, and issuing 30 meters to staff without service orders and requisition.

Read more: ECG begins querying staff cited in JoyNews’ exposé on illegal meter sale

They are also accused of receiving meters without service orders, paying application and quotation fees for service connection, using another staff login details in the illegal set-up of prepaid and post-paid meters in the Kwabenya district, and assisting in the installation of meters at the customer’s premises whilst the meters were supposed to be in the Kwabenya stores.

Finally, they are alleged to have issued six meters at the Kwabenya stores to some staff in the Kwabenya district.

Background

JoyNews investigations uncovered a cartel including staff of ECG and security guards who forge documents to sell off unapproved meters to prospective consumers at exorbitant prices.

JoyNews' Kwetey Nartey in this expose revealed that the actions of these individuals enable some consumers to enjoy free electricity.

This revelation comes on the heels of concerns raised by the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik that the power consumer loses GH¢2.8 billion as a result of illegal power connection.