[ 2016-09-21 ]

MiDA directed to halt privatisation of ECG
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has
been directed to halt all activities related to
the partial privatization of the Electricity
Company of Ghana (ECG) until it receives directive
from the president.

The Chief of Staff Mr Julius Debrah gave the
directive at a meeting involving MiDA
representatives, ECG management members and
members of the Electricity Unions.

The Public Utilities Workers and its stakeholders
articulated their position on the intended
privatization of the ECG.

Since government announced that the power
distributor will be privatized, workers of the
company have not relented in showing their
displeasure about the decision.


Members of the Public Utilities Workers Union
(PUWU) have embarked on a series of industrial
actions in a bid to move government to reconsider
its decision.

They believe solving the massive problems the
power distribution company is plagued with does
not lie in its privatization.

In an interview with Joy News, Secretary of the
ECG Senior Staff Association, Patrick Binyemi who
was at the meeting where the directive was given
expressed satisfaction at the move.

“Until the president is briefed and a directive
comes, MiDA is directed to halt its activities,”
he said.

This means a planned meeting by MiDA and the
shortlisted companies to be considered as
concessionaires must be put on hold until the
president intervenes.

The planned Concession of ECG is in line with the
Power Sector Reform Programme which was adopted by
Ghana in 1994.

Under this Programme, the Volta River Authority
(VRA) had to cede part of its statutory
responsbilities which led to the formation of the
Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) as an independent
transmission network operator within the context
of Independent Power Producers.

Additionally, the Electricity Corporation of
Ghana, as it was then called, was transformed into
the Electricity Company of Ghana so that it would
facilitate the introduction of private sector
participation in the distribution business.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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