Across many communities in Ghana, sudden power outages often leave homes in darkness and businesses counting their losses.
But behind some of these disruptions is a growing criminal trade targeting the country’s electricity infrastructure.
The Ghana Police Service has uncovered what investigators describe as a large-scale cable theft and metal export syndicate in Kpone Industrial Area, Tema, leading to the arrest of ten suspects and the recovery of a huge cache of stolen power cables believed to belong to the Electricity Company of Ghana.
For many households and businesses, electricity is the lifeline that keeps daily life and economic activity running.
However, criminal networks have targeted national power infrastructure and put that lifeline at risk.
In a joint intelligence-led operation, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, working with officials from the Ministry of Energy, uncovered a large cache of suspected stolen electricity cables at a company in Kpone Industrial Area, Tema.
The raid took place on March 4 at the premises of Sentuo Company, where investigators say dozens of workers were found cutting electricity service cables and stripping the metal components.
Police say the extracted wires were being compressed into metal blocks believed to be prepared for export.
During the operation, more than one hundred drums of electricity service cables, suspected to be property of the Electricity Company of Ghana, were discovered on the premises.
Investigators believe the scale of the operation points to a well-organised and sustained scheme targeting critical national infrastructure.
Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, including Ghanaian nationals Samuel Ekpe and Priscilla Padu, along with eight Chinese nationals believed to be playing managerial roles within the company.
Authorities say the illegal trade in stolen electricity cables has had a serious impact on power supply across communities, businesses, and public institutions.
Police have placed a twenty-four-hour security guard at the premises to prevent the removal of materials as investigations continue.
The Police says the operation marks a significant step in the fight against the theft of critical national assets and has pledged continued collaboration with state agencies to dismantle networks behind the illegal trade.
Watch Video COP LYDIA YAAKOR DONKOR, Director General, Police CID
By paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
