Nine arrested for illegal connection following police-military operation in Tamale

A joint police-military operation led by officials from the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) in the Tamale metropolis on power theft has resulted in the arrest of nine suspects with several others issued with court summons.

Forty-eight percent of power consumed in Tamale is lost to illegal connections.

The exercise was to clamp down on consumers who bypass the newly installed prepaid meters.

Hundreds of the meters have been tempered with through illegal connections.

Areas such as Sabon Zongo, Gulpela, Banvim and Nyoni, which has 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 deterred the irate consumers 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 losing 48 to 49 percent of our power purchase.

“Every other house is involved in illegal connection and this is robbing the company of millions of Cedis yet you expect better services with this attitude.

He said the Company will deal with all the people found culpable of tempering with the new prepaid meters.

“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.

The exercise is scheduled to continue in other parts of the metropolis.

By|3news.com