Four civil society groups petition TUC to oppose ECG privatisation

Several civil society groups have petitioned the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to advise the government against its plan to privatise the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), warning of potential economic and social consequences.

The petition, submitted on January 28 and received on behalf of the TUC Secretary General by Alhaji Iddrisu Fuseini, General Secretary of the Transport Petroleum Chemical Workers Union, is part of a campaign titled “Civic Action Alert: Ghanaian Citizens Against Privatisation of Utility Companies.”

The petitioners, including the Moving Africa Pan-Africanist Movement, Ghana in Planet Repairs Action Dialogue (GIPRAD), African Continental Unity Party (ACUP), and activists from the Convention People’s Party (CPP), argue that privatising ECG would lead to higher utility costs, job losses, and reduced public accountability.

Explo Nathaniel Nani-Kofi, Chairman of the Moving Africa Pan-Africanist Movement, stated in the petition’s cover letter that privatisation could exacerbate socioeconomic inequalities and threaten national sovereignty. Instead, the groups recommend anti-corruption measures, investment in modernisation, and improved governance to enhance ECG’s efficiency.

The petitioners stressed that publicly owned utility companies are crucial for community development and warned that privatisation could prioritise profits over public interest. They urged President John Mahama’s administration to consider their concerns, emphasizing their democratic right to oppose the policy.

Meanwhile, the government has set up a seven-member committee to review the proposed privatisation of ECG. Energy Minister John Jinapor has tasked the committee, which includes energy experts and key stakeholders, to consult with industry players and present a comprehensive plan within a month. The committee is expected to outline strategies for transitioning ECG to private management with the goal of improving efficiency and service delivery.