ECG accuses Africa Automobile of illegal electricity connection

Accra, April 12, GNA - The Management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), will push for custodial sentence for officials of African Automobile Limited (AAL), for an alleged illegal connection of electricity to their premises.

Mr Cephas Gakpo, Managing Director of ECG told journalists that the company would go all out to ask for a harsh sentence for the officials to serve as a deterrent to others, who are engaged in such nefarious activities. Currently, the ECG loses GH¢78 million annually as a result of theft= of electricity.

Mr Gakpo said AAL, sole agents for Mitsubishi vehicles in Ghana, was disconnected by ECG about five years ago for non-payment for power consumed, but the company went ahead to connect electricity behind a meter at its bonded warehouse to its sales and services point located about 150 metres away. To conceal the connection, officials of the company were said to have dug the ground and buried the electrical conductors through a PVC pipe.

The illegal connection, he said have robbed the company of large revenue, adding that an assessment would be done to determine how much had been lost.

Mr Gakpo said ECG officials detected the PVC pipe across a drain and discovered the concealed electrical conductors after the pipe was cut open. Officials of AAL declined to comment on the issue.