President John Dramani Mahama has firmly assured Ghanaians that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will remain public and not be privatized under his leadership, despite the company’s ongoing financial challenges.
During the national May Day parade organized by labor unions on May 1, 2025, President Mahama acknowledged the serious difficulties faced by ECG, attributing them to poor management over the past eight years, which has led to a staggering debt of GHS 68 billion. He warned that without urgent action, the entire power sector could collapse.
However, he made it clear that his approach is not to privatize ECG but to engage private partners to enhance the company’s efficiency.
“Let me assure you, it is not my intention to privatise ECG as an institution,” he stated. “Our focus is on a public-private collaboration to improve electricity distribution.”
The president referenced a successful arrangement from his previous administration, where a private company in the Free Zones enclave managed metering and billing while ECG continued to supply power. This partnership resulted in an impressive 99% revenue collection rate.
He emphasized that such collaborations can bolster ECG’s performance without sacrificing public ownership.
“Read my lips for emphasis,” he reiterated. “Electricity Company of Ghana, as an institution, will not be privatised.”
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