A JoyNews exposé has unveiled a cartel comprising individuals who work for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and security personnel engaged in the fabrication of documents to illicitly sell unapproved meters to potential consumers.

The group inflates prices. A meter, which costs a little over GH¢800, is being sold for as much as GH¢2,500.

In this exposé, conducted by JoyNews' Kwetey Nartey, it was revealed how the actions of these individuals enable certain power consumers to enjoy electricity without ECG's knowledge in various parts of the country.

This revelation follows concerns raised by Samuel Dubik, the Managing Director of ECG, who highlighted that illegal power connections result in power consumers losing GH¢2.8 billion.

Due to a convoluted process and a shortage of meters, fraudulent practices and syndicates have emerged. These groups are primarily composed of intermediaries, some corrupt ECG employees, contractors hired by the power distributor, and even private security guards stationed at ECG offices.

Their illicit activities have resulted in the widespread proliferation of counterfeit meters throughout the country.

Kofi Danso, the Ashanti Regional Revenue Protection Manager, acknowledges that the use of fake meters has become a major challenge that they are tirelessly working to combat.

A recent initiative aimed at registering and linking meters to the ECG database in the Kwabenya district uncovered a staggering 15,000 users who were consuming electricity without contributing any payment to the state. This revelation has left the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, deeply concerned.

While ECG's losses are estimated at GH¢2.8 billion due to illegal power connections, the culprits behind this detrimental activity have managed to remain largely anonymous.

In an effort to shed light on the issue, the investigative team from JoyNews visited ECG offices in three regions to assess the extent of this problem.

During a visit to the Accra East Regional Office and the sub-transmission office near Makola, Kwetey Nartey encountered Abraham, an ECG employee working in the meter department. He disclosed that a meter, typically priced at GH¢800, would cost me GH¢2,000.

Abraham also showed documents he had processed for another customer and was willing to transfer them to him, provided he paid the specified amount.

IG: What was the price you quoted for the meter you are trading?

Abraham: It will cost you GH¢2,000.

IG: Is it possible to reduce the amount being charged?

Abraham: No

IG: In what form should the transaction take? I will pay GH¢1,500, and pay the balance when the meter is fixed.

Abraham: That shouldn’t be a challenge.

Abraham advised that if he followed the established process, he would have to wait for almost a year to get the meter.

He, however, promised that he could assist get a meter if one paid just a little more than the statutory fees to him.

He boasts of helping many individuals struggling to secure such meters at ECG offices. In Abraham’s confession, three prospective customers will soon be beneficiaries of these meters he is working on after they paid GH¢2,000.

Abraham: These meters belong to other prospective consumers. There are challenges with the network connection, that problem has been persisting for some time now. If I don’t fix it before I hand over the meter to the customer, they will struggle with purchasing power. I will give you an official receipt, I don’t like swindling people I deal with.

Abraham is not the sole individual involved in the meter supply business. At the Kwabenya office of the ECG, there is another individual identified as Jerry who operates within this trade.

This is the exact district where the ECG identified over 15,000 customers who were using power illegally. Jerry promised he would help acquire a meter. He asked the investigator to pay GH¢2500.

After part payment was made to Jerry, he delved a bit deeper into how he gets meters for people like me who are in dire need of a meter but are unable to wait for months before they would be assigned one.

Jerry: I have explained the challenges with the system already.

IG: I would be glad if you reduced the cost being charged.

Jerry: When I deal with anyone I encounter, I want to deal with them in a mutually beneficial way. Securing a meter in recent times, is quite difficult. I will make sure I get you a functional meter.

IG: I would appreciate it if you would reduce the amount being charged to me. At least take GH¢200 off it. When will I get the meter?

Jerry: Give me two weeks, and come for it.

Jerry and his accomplices transfer the transaction details of another prospective customer to those offering to pay more for meters.

Jerry: I need more money to facilitate the process.

IG: How much would you need?

Jerry: Make an additional GHc500 cedis on the initial money you have given.

IG: I will provide the balance payment when I come for it.

Jerry: That wouldn’t be helpful. I need to fast-track it.

IG: Would I get the receipts for the transaction?

Jerry: No, it would be in someone’s name.

At the Achimota ECG office, I came across this ECG contractor he gave his name as Sammy. He blamed the difficulty in acquiring meters on the shortages in the system. He also charges at least GH¢2,500 to provide separate meters.

Sammy: There is a colleague who has a single phase meter, but, he is charging GH¢2,500.

IG: I was informed the amount usually charged is GH¢1,500.

Sammy: The meters are scarce. Who is your brother? Is he an electrician?

IG: Yes.

Sammy: He requested three sets of meters and payments have been made already. The only challenge is, we haven’t received supplies yet. With regard to the meter I am making reference to, the individual will fix it for you in no time.

The meter he is transferring to your home belongs to someone. Acquiring a meter through the right process takes quite some time, if only you are willing to wait, you can explore that option.

IG: If I want to use the right process to acquire the meter, how much am I likely to spend?Sammy: You will pay at least GH¢1,500.

IG: How long will it take for me to get such a meter?

Sammy: I wouldn’t be able to say, you can only count on hope because it doesn’t take much effort to process the documents requesting for a meter.

IG: Why are we facing this challenge with meter shortage?

Sammy: We have an inefficient head leading ECG. How can a 33-year-old young man lead the ECG and run it efficiently?

In the Eastern regional capital of Koforidua. This middle-aged man gave his name as Seth at the ECG office there. He charges GH¢1,500 for the unauthorized meter.

He claims GH¢1,200 of the money goes into processing and documentation and the remaining GH¢300 pay persons he described as his superiors who facilitate the acquisition.

Seth: I need to pay some monies to the boss at the helm of affairs to facilitate the speedy release of the meter for you. I prefer working diligently and being rewarded afterwards.

IG: I would want to know how much it will cost in entirety to secure a meter.

Seth: What work do you do?

IG: I am a teacher at one of the private schools.

Seth: Make a budget for GH¢1,500.

The suspects in this trading of fake meters stretch beyond the staff of ECG and the Energy Commission. At the ECG Ashanti SBU headquarters, the chief security officer who gave his name as George is in charge of the cartel there.

He said acquiring a meter can be a difficult task if one attempts to follow due process. He tells me he can secure a separate meter for me at a fee of GH¢2,000. This money, he claims, is paid to officials of ECG to facilitate the process.

George: How early do you need the meter?

IG: Would a month be an adequate time to get it?

George: It is not possible for me to get you a meter in a month.

IG: Would six months be enough time?

George: That should work perfectly for me.

IG: How much will it cost me then?

George: You will pay GH¢2,000.

IG: I will be glad if you can reduce the price for me.

George: That wouldn’t be possible. I don’t want to run into trouble for taking monies that cannot sufficiently do the work.

IG: How should the payment be affected?

George: Pay it in full.

After learning of the faces behind the fake meter trade and their mode of operation, I have returned to the Accra East Regional Office and sub-transmission office.

I paid the full amount requested by Abraham. He dispatched one of his team members, Simon Atanga, to fix a meter at the pseudo location I provided them. Within hours, I had a separate meter that was powering the electrical gadgets in this makeshift room.

IG: When should I expect a bill to be paid for the power I will use?

Simon: The meter reader will be here to take the readings.

IG: When exactly should I expect to see him?

Simon: Two months’ time.

I enquired from Simon while he was fixing the meter, when should I expect a bill to be brought for me to pay. He said two months, the meter readers will be right here to take the details.

The day the meter reader was supposed to show up was June 15th. However, close monitoring revealed that no meter reader was assigned to conduct this business. I removed the meter after three months of free electricity.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik, has expressed his disappointment in the actions of his staff members but pledged to thoroughly investigate the matter. He assured that those found responsible would face appropriate sanctions.

Additionally, this investigation received partial support from the Ghana Integrity Initiative.