Ghana’s new Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has inaugurated a seven-member Technical Committee to consult extensively with stakeholders and develop a framework for private sector participation in the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The committee, chaired by Mr. Jabesh Amissah Arthur, comprises Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director of Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP); Dr. Shafic Suleman, Secretary and newly appointed Executive Secretary of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC); Simon Akorli from PURC; Mr. Ebenezer Baiden from ECG; Lawyer Emma Akua Bulley; and Mr. Edward Abrokwah.
The committee has one month to submit its report to the Energy Minister.
This approach by the Mahama administration aims to ensure stakeholders’ input in optimizing ECG and NEDCo’s operations.
ECG has been identified as a major contributor to liquidity challenges in Ghana’s power sector value chain.
Despite recent improvements in revenue collection, more needs to be done to ensure the financial sustainability of the power sector.
The Mahama administration believes private sector participation in ECG and NEDCo’s operations will bring efficiency to their revenue collection exercise.
During the inauguration, Energy Minister Jinapor explained that the committee’s mandate is to consult extensively with stakeholders and advise the Ministry on the best way forward.
According to Minister John Abdulai Jinapor, the new administration has inherited an energy sector that is struggling to stay afloat, characterized as “bleeding and fragile.”
To address this, the minister assured that the government has no intention of selling the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Instead, the focus is on getting the private sector involved, with an emphasis on local participation, to bring in much-needed efficiency and investment.
“We have not decided to sell ECG,” he assured.
“Our goal is to involve the private sector while emphasizing local participation. We want this process to be transparent, effective, and responsible.”
Minister Jinapor urged the committee to complete its work within a month, emphasizing the need for a competitive and transparent process to turn the sector around.
“The energy sector is bleeding, and if we don’t act quickly, it will collapse,” he warned.
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