Ghana’s Energy Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, has firmly dismissed reports that the government is selling the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), stating instead that Cabinet has adopted a concession model to inject private sector efficiency while retaining full state ownership.
Speaking on PM Express on Joy News on Wednesday, April 30, the Minister sought to set the record straight amid growing speculation and misinformation circulating in the public domain.
“We are not selling ECG, and let me put this on record,” Jinapor declared emphatically.
“That decision has now been made. We are not selling ECG, far from that. So ignore the misinformation.”
A Strategic Shift: Public Ownership, Private Participation
Jinapor explained that after careful Cabinet deliberation, the government has chosen a model that will allow private sector participation in operations and management, but not in ownership. The concession model, he clarified, is designed to bring in technical expertise, innovation, and operational efficiency, particularly in service delivery and revenue collection, while keeping ECG under state control.
This approach aligns with similar models used in other utility sectors across Africa, where governments have sought to restructure service delivery without fully privatising national assets.
Context: Why the Concession Model?
The decision comes at a time when ECG has faced mounting criticism over:
- Revenue losses due to inefficiencies and power theft
- Billing challenges and outdated infrastructure
- Operational difficulties impacting service reliability
The concession model is expected to address these issues by allowing experienced private firms to manage key aspects of ECG’s operations under a performance-based contract, subject to government oversight.
Public Concerns and Misinformation
The clarification comes in response to concerns from civil society groups and union leaders, who had feared that ECG was being secretly sold off. Jinapor urged the public to disregard false claims and assured stakeholders that the move is transparent, and structured to protect national interests.
Conclusion: Reforms Without Sacrifice of Ownership
With the decision now finalized, ECG will remain 100% state-owned, while operational control under a concession agreement will aim to transform the utility’s performance. The Energy Ministry is expected to outline further details of the model in the coming weeks, including timelines, bidding processes, and regulatory mechanisms.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of ahantawest.com
