In the statement released on Monday, January 27, 2025, ECG categorically denied the accusations, asserting that no evidence supports the claim that their staff were responsible for the incident.
According to the statement, the fire occurred in a semi-detached building in Two Streams, a suburb of Koforidua, after ECG personnel disconnected the electricity supply due to an alleged illegal connection.
ECG clarified that the disconnection was carried out under police protection and was not linked to the subsequent fire.
The company emphasised that no evidence suggests that their staff's actions directly caused the fire.
“The attention of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) has been drawn to online publications accusing ECG staff of causing a fire at a residential facility in Two Streams, Koforidua, after a disconnection exercise. ECG wishes to state clearly that the allegations are completely false and must be ignored.
“The ECG postpaid customer in question owes ECG GH¢6,519.38, dating back to September 2024, and had been disconnected for non-payment of bills. On January 24, 2025, as part of the ongoing revenue mobilization exercise (Operation Keep the Lights On), the ECG team visited the customer's premises and discovered an illegal self-reconnection by the customer. The team decided to disconnect the customer for this illegality. However, the customer resisted the disconnection and threatened the ECG staff with a machete.
"Sensing danger, the ECG staff called for police assistance. In the presence of the police, the ECG team disconnected the facility directly from the pole outside the premises. The fire outbreak reportedly occurred later in the day, hours after our team had left the area.
“ECG wishes to state categorically that disconnecting a power supply directly from a pole completely curtails electricity supply to the affected premises and cannot, by any means, result in a fire outbreak. Thus, the customer's allegations against ECG are entirely false. Disconnections are part of our operations, backed by law, to ensure that recalcitrant customers pay for the electricity they consume,” the statement read.
ECG's response comes amidst ongoing discussions about efficiency and accountability in Ghana's power distribution sector, particularly following the inauguration of a seven-member technical committee aimed at enhancing private sector participation in the industry.
This committee, chaired by Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, was commissioned by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, on January 24, 2025.
The minister has emphasised the need for transparency and stakeholder engagement in all processes, particularly those involving private sector participation in the energy sector.
— Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd (@ECGghOfficial) January 27, 2025
