A joint Police-Military operation on power theft led by officials from the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) in the Tamale Metropolis, has resulted in the arrest of 9 suspects with several others issued with court summons.
48 percent of power consumed in Tamale is lost to illegal connections according to NEDCO.
The exercise, was to clamp down on consumers who bypass the newly installed prepaid metres to tap into the system.
Hundreds of the metres have been tempered with through illegal connections.
Areas such as Sabon Zongo, Gulpela, Banvim and Nyoni which have the highest rate of power theft were visited.
The operation was met with fierce resistance from a cross section of the public.
However, the presence of the military detered them from attacking the operation team.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, Northern Area Loss Control officer at VRA-NEDCO Samuel Marvellous Kumi revealed power theft and illegal connections in Tamale is alarming.
“Our lost rate is alarming. We are almost loosing 48 to 49 per cent of our power purchase.
“Every other house is involved in illegal connection and this is roping the company off millions of cedis yet you expect better services with this attitude,“ he lamented.
He said, the company will deal with all the people found culpable of tempering with the new prepaid metres.
“We will write a statement and present to the police for the suspects to be prosecuted. This time round, we are charging the suspects, then hand them over to the court for them to be punished in accordance with the law.
“We are by this serving a serious warning to the general public especially our consumers to desist from stealing power because all persons found culpable will be severely punished,“ he cautioned.
The exercise is scheduled to continue in other parts of the metropolis.
Meanwhile the nine suspects and several others who were issued court summons are being processed for court.
By Christopher Amoako|NR|Onuaonline.com
