The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to abandon its proposed plans to privatize the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), saying current improvements at the utility do not warrant a sell-off.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Accra, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah expressed disappointment with the government’s intentions, asserting that the evidence points to ongoing progress at ECG.
He also highlighted the revival of Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) as part of recent gains in the power sector.
According to Mr. Ansah, unions representing workers at both ECG and NEDCO will continue to resist any move toward privatization.
“We will continue to resist any plans by government to privatize ECG and NEDCO,” he said, stressing that proposed changes could undermine service delivery and jeopardise workers’ rights.
The call from the TUC comes amid ongoing public debate over the future of Ghana’s electricity distribution landscape.
For years, successive governments have considered restructuring the power sector to improve efficiency, reliability and financial performance.
Proponents of privatization have argued it can attract investment, enhance operational efficiency and reduce fiscal burdens, while critics believe that selling stakes in state-owned utilities could lead to job losses, higher tariffs and reduced accountability.
However, TUC has stated that the ECG, which has struggled with financial shortfalls, high technical and commercial losses, and debt challenges in the past, has recently recorded some improvement in collections and operations.
NEDCO, which distributes electricity in parts of the Northern sector, was previously moribund and has seen renewed attention and activity in recent months, a development Mr. Ansah noted as a positive sign that internal reforms can yield results.
“Evidence shows ECG is improving and NEDCO has been revived,” he told pressmen, urging the government to redirect its focus toward strengthening these institutions rather than privatizing them.
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