The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Eastern Region has made a heartfelt plea to the residents, urging them to establish watchdog committees in their neighborhoods to protect transformers and other equipment from thefts.

The appeal comes in response to a notable increase in transformer thefts within the region, carried out by unidentified individuals.

Within a span of just one month, seven transformers have fallen victim to theft. One such incident involved a 50 kv transformer, installed for streetlights near Koforidua's Oyoko Roundabout, which was taken away last Tuesday.

Additionally, thieves brought down a transformer at Pampaso No 1 in the Suhum district, opening the tank and making off with valuable copper wires.

On another occasion, an attempt was made on a transformer located at Oboma farms in Kade.

The Public Relations Officer of ECG in the Eastern Region, Emmanuel Halm, disclosed that the thieves recently cut off cables and disconnected panels of a transformer, plunging the entire community into darkness. Fortunately, they managed to escape when alert passersby raised an alarm.

The surge in transformer thefts has become a significant concern for ECG, with a total of four transformers brought down and attempts made to access their tanks during this period. Copper wires have been a common target for these thieves.

In light of these troubling incidents, ECG appeals to the general public for assistance in apprehending these culprits who continue to pose a threat to the electrical infrastructure.

The establishment of community watchdog committees can play a crucial role in protecting the vital equipment and ensuring the well-being of the entire region.

“We have been hit by a worrying trend which is a surge in transformer thefts. We have visited seven electricity-mounted transformers and four transformers have been brought down and the thieves attempted to open the tanks of the transformers, and they often steal the copper wires. Just this Monday, we were hit by another theft near the Kade District

“We are therefore appealing to the general public to help us to apprehend such culprits who come around our transformers.”