The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is warning customers to be vigilant and avoid making payments via personal mobile money accounts for any ECG services, including meter installation, replacement, or debt clearance.
The warning comes in response to a rising number of complaints from customers who say they have been targeted by fraudsters posing as ECG officials.
According to Ing. George Amoah, General Manager of ECG in the Ashanti West Region, ECG does not operate any mobile money account, and no payment requests should be honored unless made through official ECG channels.
“Fraudsters contact customers through phone calls or social media, requesting payments via specific mobile money numbers for meter installation or replacement. They often impersonate ECG officials like District Managers or Technical Officers,” Ing. Amoah said.
He stressed that all legitimate transactions must be done through the ECG’s cashless payment systems — either via the ECG PowerApp or shortcode *226#, both of which do not incur mobile money charges.
Fraud Cases on the Rise
Ing. Amoah cited recent cases where unsuspecting customers lost money to fraudsters:
- A customer who had applied for a meter was asked to pay GH₵900 via Momo number 0508058638, followed by an additional GH₵500. After the second payment, the fraudsters stopped answering calls.
- In another case at Breman, an elderly man paid GH₵2,000 for a meter, only to realize he had been scammed.
Similar incidents have been reported in Adum, Kokoben, Suame, Danyame, Abuakwa, and Ahinsan Districts, with fraudsters using the following numbers:
- 0531807230
- 0508790801
- 0543803302
- 0532752541
ECG is actively working with security agencies to trace and apprehend the perpetrators.
How to Safely Apply for a Meter
Ing. Amoah outlined the correct procedure for applying for a new meter:
- Complete your wiring with a certified electrician.
- Submit the required forms at the nearest ECG office.
- Pay a registration fee of GH₵100.
Once processed, customers will receive an official SMS from ECG with a unique payment code and amount. Payments can then be made securely via the ECG PowerApp or *226# — not to any personal number.
“No ECG official will call you and ask for payment to be sent to a mobile money number. Any such request is fraudulent,” Ing. Amoah emphasized.
No Payment for Meter Replacement
He further reminded customers that the replacement of faulty meters is completely free, and no one should pay a contractor or individual for such services.
ECG Has Enough Meters
Addressing public concern about meter shortages, Ing. Amoah said the recently introduced Loss Reduction Project (LRP) has improved availability. ECG now has enough meters to fulfill applications and is actively replacing faulty meters to enhance service delivery.
