A 31-year-old man suspected of stealing prepaid electricity meters from unsuspecting customers has been arrested by the Abuakwa Divisional Police Command in the Ashanti Region.
The suspect, identified as a resident of Sepaase in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, was initially apprehended by vigilant residents of Abuakwa Agogo Newsite on Monday, July 7, 2025. He was handed over to the police to assist with ongoing investigations.
According to Mr. George Amoah, the Ashanti West Regional Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the suspect was involved in a criminal scheme that spanned multiple communities. He allegedly moved from house to house, stealing prepaid meters and replacing them with fake post-paid versions.
In some cases, the stolen meters were later installed for other customers, allowing them to consume electricity without detection or payment. This fraudulent setup not only resulted in lost revenue for ECG but also enabled unlawful power consumption on a significant scale.
“The suspect’s activities were a direct attack on our operations. It has negatively affected our revenue collection and caused considerable inconvenience to our loyal customers,” Mr. Amoah said.
He revealed that in recent months, a growing number of ECG customers have reported stolen meters. These cases often force victims to endure a burdensome process—filing police reports and paying for replacement meters before restoration.
In response to the growing trend of meter thefts, ECG intensified public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the risks and consequences of electricity-related crimes. Mr. Amoah said these efforts were beginning to show results, thanks in part to community involvement and increased collaboration with security agencies.
He applauded the residents of Abuakwa Agogo Newsite for their swift action in apprehending the suspect and emphasized the need for continued vigilance across the region.
“We urge all citizens to assist in protecting national assets by reporting illegal activities such as power theft, meter tampering, transformer vandalism, and unauthorized connections,” Mr. Amoah stressed.
The ECG says it will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies to root out such illegalities and safeguard the country’s power infrastructure.
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