The Police, together with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), have pledged immediate action to curb a surge in electricity meter thefts and shop break-ins troubling the Ga West communities.
The commitment follows urgent community consultations held on Saturday.
The decisive meeting at the Manhean Lorry Station was convened in direct response to recent media reports highlighting the escalating crimes.
It brought together senior police leadership from the Greater Accra Region and Amasaman Division with management from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ablekuma District.
Leading the delegation, Greater Accra Regional Crime Officer, Chief Inspector Emmanuel Agbogah, alongside Amasaman Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Peter Adjei, heard firsthand accounts from distressed residents and local leaders.
The community delegation included the Assembly Member for Manhean Electoral Area, Hon. Daniel Aryee Aryeetey, the Council of Elders, and residents from Gyankpo, Numo Tsen, and other affected areas.
Chief Supt. Peter Adjei vowed swift police intervention to restore public safety. A critical immediate step will be the formation of a Neighbourhood Watch Committee, which the police pledged to support and train.
“We will act on all credible information. Your partnership is essential,” stated Chief Supt. Adjei, urging residents to report suspicious activities.
He directly addressed a major community concern: the proliferation of illicit drug dens, or “weed ghettos,” identified as a catalyst for crime.
He acknowledged frustrations over suspects being quickly released and promised a targeted strategy to dismantle these networks.
On the rampant meter thefts, ECG Ablekuma District Manager Benedicta Opoku-Mensah issued a stern warning against using unauthorized middlemen.
“When you need a meter, come to the ECG office to start the official process. Avoid the ‘goro boys’,” she advised.
She clarified that contractors are only assigned after formal office approval.
Ms. Opoku-Mensah also linked illegal connections and power theft to the frequent low voltages experienced in the area and appealed for patience during necessary outages.
She urged residents to report any service misconduct by staff directly to the official ECG office.
Following the firm assurances, Assembly Member Hon. Daniel Aryee Aryeetey expressed his appreciation for the prompt response.
“We thank the police and ECG for their seriousness. We offer our full cooperation to ensure these plans succeed and crime in our area is drastically reduced,” he stated.
The meeting concluded with a reinforced commitment to a collaborative approach, marking a unified front by authorities and the community to tackle insecurity and electricity fraud in Manhean and surrounding communities.
