The United States, which funded the restoration of electricity to Liberia after the civil war in 2003, has decried widespread power theft in the country.

According to the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia, the Liberia Electricity Corporation lost $220 million dollars within the last five years, as a result of well-organized electricity theft cartel that benefits well-connected businesses and government officials.

Addressing a major news conference on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy said the embassy knows that some LEC investigators trying to fix the problem have been harassed by some representing themselves as security officials and termed the act as unacceptable.

Ambassador McCarthy said as a major investor in Liberia’s power sector, the U.S calls on government officials to stop corruption and prosecute perpetrators of power theft.

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