ECG Not for Sale – Mahama Reaffirms Commitment to Public Ownership
President Mahama emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships to improve ECG's efficiency while assuring the public that the state-owned utility will not be privatized
- President Mahama reassures Ghanaians, dismissing fears of privatization.
- Mahama emphasizes collaboration to improve ECG’s operations
- The President highlights the need for reforms to prevent sector collapse and reduce power tariffs
President John Mahama has reassured Ghanaians that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will not be privatised, despite ongoing concerns surrounding the country’s power sector.
Speaking during the May Day celebration at Black Star Square on Thursday, May 1, the President addressed mounting fears about the potential privatisation of ECG.
He firmly stated that his government has no intention of selling the state-owned utility.
“Let me assure you that it is not my intention to privatise ECG as an institution. We are focusing on public-private collaboration to boost efficiency in our electricity distribution system,” President Mahama affirmed.
He acknowledged that ECG is currently grappling with significant debt and operational inefficiencies, which are putting the stability of the entire power sector at risk.
“The ECG has been weighed down by poor governance over the last eight years, with a debt of GH¢68 billion and climbing. If we don’t act decisively, the entire power sector could collapse. To reduce power tariffs, we must improve efficiency in distribution,” he explained.
President Mahama highlighted that public-private partnerships offer a practical solution, citing a successful example from his previous tenure.
“When I was President, Enclave Power, a private company, was granted the rights for metering and billing within the free zones. ECG provided bulk power supply, and Enclave Power has been consistently paying ECG on time. Their billing and collection efficiency in the free zones is 99%,” he noted.
He stressed that such partnerships can enhance the effectiveness of electricity distribution without privatizing ECG, emphasizing that public ownership of the utility will remain intact.
“I am confident that public-private partnerships will improve the sector, but let me assure you that ECG as an institution will not be privatised,” President Mahama concluded.
