Tema: The Tema Regional Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has reported the loss of eight transformers due to theft and vandalism over two consecutive quarters, according to Mr. Emmanuel Ankomah, the Regional General Manager.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Ankomah revealed that five transformers were stolen in the last quarter of 2025, with an additional three lost in the first quarter of 2026. The replacement of a single 200 kVA transformer incurs a cost of approximately GHS200,000, imposing a significant financial burden on the company. This loss has adversely affected the company's operations and revenue generation.
Mr. Ankomah called on the public to remain vigilant and ensure that individuals working on transformers in their communities are officially assigned by the ECG. The thieves are known to target copper coils, aluminum windings, and laminated steel cores, indicating that they possess technical knowledge of transformer construction.
He mentioned that incidents of transformer vandalism have been reported to security services and that public awareness has been enhanced through district assemblies and local announcements to help curb the menace. The ECG has also established fault centers to respond promptly to challenges, aiming to ensure uninterrupted power supply and discourage consumers from resorting to alternative electricity sources.
Mr. Ankomah highlighted that delays in restoring electricity often compel customers to seek other power sources, further straining the company's service delivery. He emphasized that transformer vandalism poses a serious threat to ECG's revenue, with the high cost of replacing stolen or damaged transformers and disruptions in electricity distribution negatively impacting the company's financial performance and its capacity to provide reliable services.