The Oyibi Police Command in the Greater Accra Region has made a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into massive cable theft from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Two men were arrested while allegedly transporting 40 bundles of suspected stolen electrical cables from ECG.
What particularly notable about this case is how it connects to a much larger scandal that has cost Ghana billions of cedis. The arrests are directly linked to the shocking discovery of over 1,300 missing ECG containers at the Tema Port in 2025.
The Suspects and Their Stories
The arrested men are Ernest Tagbor, 50, a resident of Ashiyie in the Adenta Municipality, and Prince Opoku, 44. Police intelligence led them to intercept the suspects while they were transferring the cables from the Seduasi area near the Oyibi Prayer Camp.
Superintendent Augustina Enti, the Oyibi Police Commander, revealed the operation details. She told The Fourth Estate that intelligence indicated the suspects were about to transport the cables elsewhere.
"We got the intelligence when they were about to transport them [ECG cables] somewhere else," Superintendent Enti explained.
The inconsistencies in their stories are telling. Tagbor claimed ownership of the cables but could not produce any supporting documentation. Meanwhile, Opoku, who was directing commercial drivers, told investigators the destination was Dansoman, but the drivers contradicted him, stating they had been contracted to transport the goods to Kasoa.
Court Proceedings and Bail Conditions
Both suspects appeared before the Adenta Circuit Court last Wednesday, with Judge Sarah Nyarkoa Nkansah presiding. The court granted bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties, one of whom must justify with landed property.
However, the suspects have failed to meet these bail conditions and remain in police custody. As Superintendent Enti noted, they are yet to fulfill their bail requirements.
The Bigger Picture: Tema Port Investigation
This arrest forms part of a much larger investigation into what I consider one of Ghana's most significant infrastructure theft cases. An independent audit at the Tema Port revealed shocking discrepancies in ECG container numbers.
ECG initially reported 2,491 uncleared containers at the port. However, the audit found only 1,134 containers, creating a shortfall of over 1,347 containers filled with critical electrical cables and essential equipment.
The financial implications are staggering. The missing containers represent approximately GHS1.5 billion in demurrage and procurement costs, highlighting the scale of this theft operation.
Government Response
Richmond Rockson, Spokesman and Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, confirmed that the Ministry is aware of the CID operation. He clarified that following the Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah committee's report, which flagged the over 1,300 unaccounted containers, a high-powered joint committee was established.
The preliminary police investigations indicate these recovered cables were among those looted from the port. As Superintendent Enti explained, while the cables are suspected to have been stolen, investigations are still ongoing.
This case represents a critical test for Ghana's law enforcement capabilities in tackling large-scale infrastructure theft. The successful prosecution of these suspects could send a strong message to others involved in similar criminal enterprises targeting the country's essential utilities.
For more insights into how technology is being used to combat theft and improve security measures in Ghana's infrastructure sector, readers should follow ongoing developments in this case.