By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News Canada
Technology company Hubtel has collaborated with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to use artificial intelligence (AI) in identifying electricity customers whose consumption patterns may indicate suspected power theft, according to Hubtel Chief Executive Officer Alex Bram.
Bram disclosed the initiative while discussing the company’s early artificial intelligence projects ahead of the second Digital Economy Forum, where industry stakeholders are expected to examine the opportunities and challenges AI presents for Ghana’s economy.
According to him, ECG provided electricity-related data that enabled Hubtel to test AI systems designed to detect unusual consumption patterns and identify accounts that might require further investigation.
The initiative highlights the potential role of AI in supporting electricity distribution companies to identify possible irregularities, improve monitoring and direct inspection teams towards cases requiring closer examination.
However, being flagged by an AI system does not establish that a customer has stolen electricity. Any suspicion would need to be investigated and verified before conclusions could be reached.
Hubtel’s Early Experiments With Artificial Intelligence
Bram explained that Hubtel began experimenting with AI in 2022 before establishing its AI laboratory in 2023.
The company initially sought to develop its own artificial intelligence models using machine-learning techniques and neural networks. The objective was to build systems capable of analysing data and supporting practical solutions for businesses and public institutions.
However, the company encountered significant difficulties in securing the specialised technical expertise required for its ambitions.
Bram said Hubtel had hoped to recruit approximately 30 machine-learning engineers but struggled to find enough qualified professionals in Ghana, even after increasing its recruitment budget.
The experience, he explained, exposed one of the challenges facing organisations seeking to develop advanced AI capabilities locally: access to skilled professionals remains essential to turning technological ambitions into practical applications.
Data Access Emerges as a Major Challenge
Beyond recruitment difficulties, Hubtel also faced challenges obtaining the data needed to develop, test and improve its AI systems.
Bram said uncertainty surrounding data-sharing arrangements limited cooperation between organisations, making it more difficult to access the information required for developing useful applications.
By late 2024 and into 2025, Hubtel began shifting towards commercially available AI models rather than relying exclusively on building its own systems.
His account highlights a broader issue for Ghana’s digital transformation: investment in computing infrastructure alone may not be sufficient to establish a competitive artificial intelligence ecosystem.
Organisations also need access to appropriate, reliable data, qualified technical professionals and clear rules governing how information can be shared and used.
Call for Clear Data-Sharing Rules and Technical Skills
Bram urged the government to complement its plans for a national AI computing centre with a comprehensive data-sharing framework and investment in technical education and skills development.
He argued that computing infrastructure would have limited practical value if organisations lacked access to suitable data or the professionals needed to build and operate AI systems.
A clear framework could help institutions understand when and how information may be shared, while establishing safeguards to protect sensitive and personal information.
For businesses and public institutions, such arrangements could support the development of applications in areas including energy management, agriculture, manufacturing and public service delivery.
The challenge for policymakers will be to encourage innovation while ensuring that data is handled lawfully, securely and responsibly.
AI and Ghana’s Digital Economy
The Hubtel-ECG initiative is expected to form part of broader discussions at the second Digital Economy Forum, which will examine the role of artificial intelligence in Ghana’s economic development.
The forum is themed “AI and the Ghana Economy: Opportunity or Disruption?” and is scheduled to air on JoyNews and Joy 99.7 FM on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 8 p.m.
Participants are expected to discuss how AI could affect productivity, employment, public services and the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses.
Bram said Ghana could use the technology to improve productivity across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and agro-processing if the country develops the necessary expertise and infrastructure.
The discussions come as organisations increasingly explore AI tools to analyse information, automate routine tasks and support decision-making.
What the ECG Initiative Could Mean for Electricity Consumers
For ECG, AI-assisted identification of unusual consumption patterns could provide another way to prioritise inspections and investigate possible irregularities in electricity use.
If implemented effectively, such systems could help the company allocate resources more efficiently and identify cases that warrant further examination.
Nevertheless, the reliability of the results will depend on the quality of the underlying data and the accuracy of the models used.
Unusual electricity consumption does not necessarily mean theft. Changes in household occupancy, business activity, faulty meters, billing errors or other technical issues could also produce unexpected patterns.
It will therefore be important for ECG to ensure that AI-generated alerts are assessed by qualified personnel and that affected customers have clear procedures for correcting inaccurate records or challenging allegations.
Privacy protections and transparency about how customer information is used will also be important to maintaining public confidence.
COMMENTARY: Innovation Must Be Matched With Accountability
Hubtel’s work with ECG illustrates how artificial intelligence could help Ghanaian institutions identify patterns that might otherwise be difficult to detect manually.
However, the value of such technology should be measured not only by its ability to flag suspicious cases but also by the accuracy, fairness and accountability of the decisions that follow.
AI can assist investigations, but it should not replace evidence or due process. Customers must not be treated as guilty simply because an algorithm identifies their electricity consumption as unusual.
At the national level, Ghana’s ambitions to expand AI adoption will depend on more than computing facilities. Access to appropriate data, investment in local expertise, responsible governance and public trust will all be essential.
The ECG initiative therefore presents both an opportunity to improve electricity monitoring and a reminder that technological progress must go hand in hand with safeguards for consumers.
