- 2 men convicted for posing as ECG workers and extorting money.
- Fined GH¢1,200 each, with a 6-month prison sentence if unpaid.
- Investigation found ECG-branded items and tools in their possession.
Two individuals, Nana Adu Gyamfi, 33, an electrician, and Derrick Ntow Adumah, 22, a mason, have been convicted by the Accra Circuit Court for posing as Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) workers and extorting money from customers. The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, fined each of them GH¢1,200, with a default sentence of six months in prison.
The two pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, intentionally or knowingly interfering with suppliers’ distribution, defrauding by false pretenses, and stealing an ECG meter. According to the prosecution, led by Mr. Paul Asibi Abarigah, Gyamfi and Adumah devised a scheme to collect money from ECG customers, claiming they had engaged in illegal connections.
The complainant, Gabriel Akinade, is the District Technical Officer of ECG, Dansoman, and the convicts are residents of Dansoman, Accra. On March 25, 2024, Gyamfi and Adumah went to Zone Six, a suburb of Dansoman, moving from house to house, introducing themselves as ECG workers on a meter monitoring operation.
They disconnected and removed an installed ECG meter number P35765641 from a house over an alleged illegal connection. The convicts then demanded money ranging between GH¢20 and GH¢50 from the customers. The prosecutor told the court that the convicts were arrested and sent to the Dansoman ECG office.
The case was reported to the ECG Investigations Unit, and during investigations, two reflective jackets, a flat board with an ECG printed logo, screwdrivers, a voltmeter, and ECG meters with serial numbers P35774560 and P35765641 were found on the convicts.
The prosecutor said the convicts admitted to the offense in their caution statements, but Gyamfi claimed that it was Adumah who introduced him into the “business.” The court, however, found them both guilty and sentenced them accordingly.
The prosecution emphasized that the convicts’ actions were a deliberate attempt to defraud ECG customers and undermine the company’s operations. The court’s decision serves as a warning to others who may engage in similar illegal activities.
The Electricity Company of Ghana has been working to improve its services and combat illegal connections, and this case highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation from customers and the public.
The convicts’ actions not only harmed ECG customers but also undermined the company’s efforts to provide reliable and efficient electricity supply. The court’s decision is a step towards protecting the rights of customers and the integrity of ECG’s operations.
The case serves as a reminder that illegal activities, such as posing as ECG workers and extorting money, will not be tolerated and will be met with swift justice.
