The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has denied allegations that its staff caused a fire outbreak at a residential facility in Two-Streams, Koforidua, following a disconnection exercise.
According to ECG, online accusations are false and should be disregarded.
In a press release signed by Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, General Manager for External Communications, ECG clarified that the affected customer owed GH¢6,519.38 in unpaid bills since September 2024.
On January 24, 2025, as part of ECG’s ongoing revenue mobilization campaign, “Operation Keep the Lights On,” a team from the company discovered an illegal self-reconnection at the property.
Efforts to disconnect the facility escalated when the customer allegedly threatened the ECG staff with a machete, prompting the team to seek police assistance. The disconnection was subsequently completed at the pole outside the property in the presence of the police.
The fire outbreak was reported hours later, long after the ECG team had vacated the premises. Addressing the incident, ECG stated, “Disconnection of the power supply directly from a pole curtails electricity supply to the affected premises and cannot, by any means, result in a fire outbreak.”
ECG emphasized that disconnection is a lawful practice to ensure customers pay for the electricity they consume. The company reassured the public of its commitment to customer safety and urged individuals to pay their bills promptly while refraining from illegal connections, which it described as criminal and punishable by law.
“As a customer-centric company, ECG will not engage in any act that would endanger the lives and property of our cherished customers,” Mr. Ayiku stressed.
The company further advised customers to avoid tampering with its systems, stressing the risks and legal consequences of illegal connections.