A former United Nations governance advisor has levelled serious allegations against a network of interests within Ghana’s electricity sector, accusing them of systematically exploiting consumers for financial gain.
Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, voiced strong suspicions of organised malpractice, particularly in light of recent concerns regarding the disappearance of credits from Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) meters.
“I personally suspect there’s a cabal in the electricity sector that is determined to rip off Ghanaians forever,” Prof Agyeman-Duah stated. “Somehow I believe it because of what I have experienced.”
The governance expert pointed to the recurring controversies surrounding electricity meters as evidence of deeper, systemic issues related to procurement and contracts. He alleged that the frequent turnover of meter types under different administrations is a primary mechanism for exploitation.
“You see the whole thing of meters, meter selling, every administration wants to bring its own meters because that’s how they make the money to cheat us,” he alleged.
Prof Agyeman-Duah questioned the technical necessity behind the constant changes, contrasting Ghana’s experience with his observations abroad. He recounted an instance where meters imported from Egypt reportedly failed to function and were subsequently discarded.
“Do you know the time they imported some meters from Egypt? They were all discarded because they never worked,” he claimed.
Drawing from his personal experience, he noted the stability of metering systems in other countries. “I was in Tanzania for five years. The same meter worked for me, and it continued to work when I left after five years,” he said. “Why is it that we are changing meters?”
He suggested that these repeated replacements are driven by financial interests rather than technological necessity. “Because you know why? It’s a way for them to make money. Contracts, procurement. And that’s the truth,” he stated.
In his appeal, Prof Agyeman-Duah called on the President to intervene, urging the implementation of stronger oversight and transparency measures to safeguard consumers from what he described as ongoing exploitation within the sector.
