A large section of Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region has been without electricity for three days following an alleged attack on a staff member of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) during a monitoring exercise. Editorial Standards
The power disconnection reportedly followed an altercation between members of a household and an ECG monitoring team after the team allegedly identified a faulty electricity meter during an inspection.
According to information from residents, an ECG staff member sustained injuries during the incident. The company subsequently disconnected power to the affected area, leaving households, businesses, and other establishments struggling to operate.
The outage has disrupted economic activities and raised concerns among residents, some of whom are appealing to ECG to restore electricity while condemning the alleged attack on its staff.
Business owners say the prolonged interruption has affected sales, damaged perishable goods, and increased their operating costs.
Elizabeth Tetteh, a shop owner who operates a drinking spot and sells ice cream, told Insightghana News that the outage had significantly affected her business.
“I operate a drinking spot and sell ice cream. People are not buying because the drinks are not cold. The stock ice cream I had has also gone bad. Most potential customers also think I am not operating because of the darkness,” she said.
For businesses that depend on refrigeration, even a short power interruption can result in financial losses. The situation becomes more difficult when operators cannot afford fuel for generators or lack alternative storage facilities for perishable goods.
Residents have also raised security concerns, particularly in areas that remain dark at night.
Nana Yaw, a resident, said the outage had created an environment that could be exploited by criminals. He disclosed that thieves allegedly used the darkness to break into one of his apartments and steal electrical cables. Corrections Policy
“We do not condone violence and so we’re appealing to ECG to reconnect us to the grid. Those of us living at New Site are really suffering. Thieves took advantage of the darkness to break into one of my apartments to steal cables,” he said.
The reported security concerns have added to the frustration of residents who are already dealing with difficulties accessing basic services and maintaining their daily routines.
Chop bar operator Elizabeth Kpodo also said the outage was affecting her income. According to her, the absence of electricity had made it difficult to operate normally and serve customers.
Cold store operator Azara said she had been forced to rely on a standby generator after some of her stock reportedly spoiled.
“I sell meat and drinks and so I had to get a standby generator after some of the meat got rotten. We have been off for three days now,” she said.
The use of generators, however, comes with additional costs, including fuel, maintenance, and repairs. For small businesses operating on limited margins, these expenses can further reduce profits and threaten their ability to remain open.
The Assemblyman for the Potsin Electoral Area, Ebenezer Adams, acknowledged the hardship caused by the outage and appealed to ECG to reconnect the community.
He also pledged to assist the authorities in apprehending the individual who allegedly attacked the ECG staff member. Mr Adams apologised to the company on behalf of the community and urged ECG to consider restoring power while the matter is addressed. Editorial Ethics & Independence
“We render an unqualified apology to them. They should temper justice with mercy and come and reconnect us to the national grid,” he said.
The incident has renewed calls for peaceful engagement between utility companies and customers during monitoring and enforcement exercises. ECG routinely conducts inspections to identify faulty meters, illegal connections, and other issues that may affect revenue collection and the reliability of electricity supply.
However, such exercises can sometimes lead to disputes, particularly when customers disagree with the findings of monitoring teams or fear possible disconnections and financial liabilities.
Residents and local authorities are therefore expected to cooperate with ECG officials while using lawful channels to challenge disputed assessments or report concerns.
As the outage continues, affected residents are hoping for a resolution that will restore electricity and protect livelihoods. At the same time, the alleged assault on the ECG worker has prompted calls for accountability and a peaceful approach to resolving disputes between utility providers and the communities they serve.