AT LEAST eight Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians are in the custody of the Ghana Police Service for their involvement in an alleged cable theft and metal export syndicate.
The Ghanaians arrested are Samuel Ekpe and Priscilla Padu. The arrested Chinese nationals, believed to be playing managerial roles in the company, are Yuxiaoting, He Jing, Xu Changjiu, Li Lei, Chen Jin, Zheng Ma, Wang Jian, Bin Bin, and Zheng Yi Quing
Their arrest was as a result of collaborative efforts between the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters Operations Unit and officials of the Ministry of Energy, leading to the uncovering of a large cache of stolen Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) service cables.
The operation was conducted on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. The team observed approximately 70 employees of the company actively engaged in cutting ECG service cables into pieces and stripping the metal components from the insulation.
COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of CID, told journalists in Accra on Monday, March 9, 2026, that “the suspects extracted bare wires which were being compressed into metal blocks, believed to be destined for export. Over one hundred (100) drums of service cables, believed to be the property of the Electricity Company of Ghana, were discovered on the premises.
The volume and condition of the recovered cables indicate a sustained and systematic operation targeting ECG infrastructure.”
COP Yaako Donkor further stated that following the arrest, a 24-hour guard has been placed at the premises to prevent the removal or evacuation of any materials pending the conclusion of investigations.
“The Ghana Police Service views this operation as a significant step in the fight against the theft of critical national infrastructure. The stealing and illegal export of ECG cables has had a severe and direct impact on electricity supply across communities, businesses, and public institutions,” she stated.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke