ECG Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Unpaid Bills — Illegal Connections Face Prosecution

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has launched a sweeping, nationwide revenue mobilisation drive aimed at recovering unpaid electricity bills from customers across the country. The exercise, which runs until Friday, 27 November 2026, covers all categories of consumers — from households to large commercial and industrial users — as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that owe outstanding balances.

What ECG is doing and why

According to Dr Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, ECG's General Manager for External Communications, the primary objective of the exercise is to shore up the company's finances and improve its capacity to deliver consistent, reliable electricity services. Special enforcement teams have been deployed nationwide to monitor the exercise and ensure compliance.

Customers with unpaid bills have been urged to settle their debts promptly. Those who fail to do so risk disconnection — and once disconnected, they will incur additional reconnection fees on top of their original outstanding amounts, adding to their financial burden.

Critically, ECG has signalled that it will take a hard line on illegal activity during the exercise. Teams have been given the authority to arrest and prosecute individuals who engage in illegal electricity connections, interfere with ECG officials carrying out disconnections, or attempt to reconnect their power supply without authorisation after being cut off. Dr Ayiku warned that such actions carry serious legal consequences and urged the public to cooperate fully with ECG personnel.

Why it matters for Ghana

ECG's financial health is a matter of national concern. The utility has long struggled with what energy sector analysts describe as a significant revenue collection gap — a situation driven by unpaid bills, illegal connections and commercial losses. This shortfall weakens ECG's ability to invest in infrastructure, pay for power it purchases from generators and maintain the distribution network that millions of Ghanaians depend on daily.

When utilities are financially strained, the ripple effects are felt broadly: ageing equipment goes unrepaired, outages become more frequent and the cost of doing business rises for companies that rely on a stable power supply. Ghana's broader economic productivity is closely tied to electricity availability, making ECG's revenue situation a concern that extends well beyond the company itself.

For the government, MDAs with outstanding bills represent a particularly sensitive category. Public institutions consuming power without settling their accounts places an additional strain on a utility that is already navigating a challenging operating environment. The inclusion of MDAs in this exercise signals that ECG intends to pursue all categories of debtors, regardless of their status.

What customers need to do now

ECG has outlined several steps customers can take to avoid disconnection and the associated inconvenience:

• Check your outstanding balance by visiting the nearest ECG district or regional office if you are unsure of the amount owed.
• Pay through approved channels, with ECG particularly recommending the ECG Mobile App, available for download on the Google Play Store, for a convenient and queue-free experience.
• Call the ECG Contact Centre on 0302 611611 for queries, payment assistance or to report any issues during the exercise.
• Do not attempt to reconnect your supply after a disconnection without going through the proper ECG process — doing so is a criminal offence and will result in arrest and prosecution.

Dr Ayiku appealed to all customers to honour their payment obligations and treat ECG staff with respect during the exercise. He reiterated that timely bill payment is not merely a commercial transaction but a contribution to the operational sustainability of Ghana's electricity distribution network — and ultimately to the reliability of power supply for everyone.