The Ashanti West Region of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) recovered GH¢4,388,264.59 in 2025 from customers who made illegal power connections.

The amount is part of GH¢5,812,727.06 in surcharges for illegal connections during the year, equivalent to 3,018,561.10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity consumed unlawfully.

Mr George Amoah, General Manager, Ashanti West Region, told the Ghana News Agency that efforts were ongoing to recover the outstanding balance. He said the exercise aimed to reduce commercial losses from power theft and to generate revenue to sustain the electricity supply chain.

“As a company, we pay suppliers like GRIDCO, the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for power purchased and distributed to customers. Illegal consumption denies us revenue to pay these key players,” he explained.

Mr Amoah noted that illegal connections also overload transformers, causing low voltage and power interruptions.

He said the company conducted inspections in areas including Bantama and Denkyemuoso, visiting about 8,182 customers—hotels, households, cold stores, restaurants and other institutions—both day and night.

Offences detected included meter bypass, unauthorised and direct connections, and meter tampering.

Mr Amoah warned that illegal connectivity was a criminal offence prosecutable under Executive Instrument (E.I.) 38 of the Appointment of Public Prosecution Instrument (2010).

He added that it posed risks, including fire outbreaks and electrocution.

He urged the public to report suspected offenders and meter abnormalities to the nearest ECG office, rather than tampering with meters or engaging third-party electricians.

Mr Frank Mensah, Ashanti West Regional Revenue Protection Manager, said monitoring would be intensified this year, noting that some offenders had replaced confiscated meters with fake ones to evade payment.