The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) last Tuesday, uncovered one of the single biggest illegal connections in the Kumasi metropolis, involving the consumption of power to the tune of GH¢45,171. The offending company, Trade Wide Company Limited, which manufactures plastic and rubber products, has consumed power free of charge for more than a year. Although an industrial metre had been installed on the premises, power was not passing through it, enabling the company to consume electricity free of charge. Officials of the company claimed the power connection had been made with the help of some ECG officials, but failed to name them. But the ECG has ordered the company to refund the amount involved within two weeks or face legal action. The Ashanti Regional Public Affairs Manager of the ECG, Mr. Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, who led a team of officials from his outfit to the company’s premises last Tuesday, shook his head in disbelief on realising that the company had enjoyed free power for all that long. He said ECG was on the warpath to clamp down on the cheats in the system, adding that if the allegation that some ECG officials were involved proved to be true, the affected persons would not be spared. He called for public cooperation to unearth illegal connections of power. According to Mr. Baidoo, the company was losing huge sums of money as a result of those illegal activities, saying that in the end the nation would be the loser. He mentioned some of the ongoing projects to enhance power supply in the region, noting that, “It is obvious that we need the money to bring such projects to completion.” The projects include the construction of two primary substations at Kenyase and Fawoade, the installation of a high voltage distribution system at Suame Magazine, the installation of a 33kv grid expansion substation, the provision of two switching stations at Ejisu and Kuntanase and the upgrading of existing primary substations in Obuasi and Mampong. He advised the public to ensure that only authorised representatives of the ECG connected, altered, disconnected or dealt with any apparatus or equipment belonging to the ECG on a customer’s premises. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana