**Tema**: Ghana’s Energy Minister, John Jinapor, refutes claims of plans to sell the Electricity Company of Ghana, insisting on public ownership while promoting private collaborations to improve efficiency and service quality. He urges the public to disregard misleading reports about potential privatisation.
Ghana’s Energy Minister, John Jinapor, has firmly rejected circulating claims that the government intends to sell the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), describing such reports as “misleading” and imploring the public to ignore assertions suggesting imminent privatisation. His remarks were made during a press briefing on February 21, where he conducted an inspection of the West African Gas Pipeline Company’s facilities in Tema.
Jinapor made it unequivocally clear that ECG remains a state-operated entity. He elaborated that the government is pursuing reforms geared towards private sector collaboration designed to rectify systemic inefficiencies within the company. “Let me be unequivocal: ECG is not for sale. It will not be sold,” Jinapor asserted, countering what he labelled as inaccurate narratives surrounding the company’s future.
The minister highlighted that the government’s approach is focused on incorporating private sector expertise into the operations of ECG. This initiative aims to mitigate financial losses, enhance reliability of service, and stabilise revenue streams. “This is not privatisation,” he emphasised. “It is about leveraging partnerships to modernise ECG while retaining public ownership.”
Jinapor’s comments come in response to rising public doubts concerning the government’s management of ECG. The company has faced numerous operational challenges, including technical losses, billing irregularities, and substantial debt accumulation. There are apprehensions among critics who warn that privatisation could lead to job cuts and increased tariffs for consumers. However, Jinapor reassured stakeholders that the involvement of private firms would instead strengthen ECG’s capacity to fulfill its financial commitments, such as settling debts owed to independent power producers, whilst maintaining governmental control.
Analysts have pointed out that this ongoing debate illustrates broader tensions within Ghana’s energy sector. The landscape has been marred by ageing infrastructure and financial mismanagement which have significantly hindered service delivery. Previous attempts to reform ECG, notably a 2019 concession agreement with Power Distribution Services Ghana, faltered amid legal disputes and opposition from labour unions. Jinapor’s latest assertions appear strategically aimed at preempting similar backlash, although a prevailing scepticism persists among union groups and consumer advocates.
While specific timelines or partnerships for the proposed collaborations have yet to be divulged, the minister’s declarations highlight a nuanced balancing act: revitalising a vital public utility without awakening concerns over potential asset privatisation. For the time being, government officials are adamant that ECG will remain within state jurisdiction, albeit its viability may hinge on external partnerships.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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