The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has cautioned customers against fraudsters who demand payments through mobile money numbers in exchange for services such as meter installation, replacement, or debt cancellation.
The warning follows a surge in complaints from customers who reported receiving fraudulent calls from individuals impersonating ECG officials. According to Ing. George Amoah, General Manager of ECG in the Ashanti West Region, the company does not operate any mobile money account, and customers should disregard such requests.
ECG explained that all transactions must be conducted through its official digital platforms, the ECG PowerApp or shortcode *226#, under the company’s new cashless system. Payments made through these platforms are safe and free of mobile money charges.
Ing. Amoah revealed that some customers had already fallen victim. In one case, a customer was tricked into paying GH¢900 and was later asked for an additional GH¢500. Another victim, an elderly man at Breman, paid GH¢2,000 to fraudsters who stopped answering his calls after receiving the money.
Similar incidents have been recorded in Adum, Kokoben, Suame, Danyame, Abuakwa, and Ahinsan Districts, with fraudsters using numbers such as 0531807230, 0508790801, 0543803302, and 0532752541.
To guide customers, ECG clarified the official procedure for applying for a meter. Customers must first complete wiring with a certified electrician, submit their forms at an ECG office, and pay a registration fee of GH¢100. A quotation is then issued with a unique code sent via SMS, after which payment is made directly through ECG’s official platforms. Replacement of faulty meters, ECG stressed, is free of charge.
Addressing concerns about meter shortages, Ing. Amoah noted that the Loss Reduction Project (LRP) has improved supply. ECG now has enough meters to meet demand, ensuring efficient service delivery, reducing operational losses, and boosting customer satisfaction.
The company urged the public to report fraudulent calls to ECG offices or the police and to make payments only through official channels. ECG reiterated its commitment to working with security agencies to track and arrest the perpetrators behind the scams.
