PSWU OPPOSES ECG PRIVATIZATION

The Public Services Workers Union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress says it strongly opposes any form of privatization in the power sector, whether concessions or management contracts. 

It also opposes public private partnerships in water and sanitation, primary health and primary education. 

According to the Union, these areas should be in the hands and control of the State for sustainable development. 

The General Secretary of the Public Services Workers Union, Richard Amparbeng articulated the sentiment at the opening of the 9^th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the union in Kumasi. 

The 4-day conference which will also elect new officers to steer the affairs of the union is on the theme; “The New Development Agenda of Public Private Partnerships, PPP-The Main Issues”.

 Mr. Amparbeng warned that the PSWU would resist any attempt by multinational enterprises to take advantage of the country’s current energy challenges. 

He assured the Volta River Authority, Ghana Grid Company and Northern Electricity Distribution Company that the union shall stand with them in the midst of all threats to pave way for privatization. 

He emphasized that the PSWU in principle is not against public private partnerships which creates jobs and sustainable development.

 Equally, the union cannot accept public private partnerships that seek to take advantage of the weaknesses of the state to rob it of its meager resources. 

Mr. Amparbeng said public private partnerships must be encouraged in areas where the state doesn’t have the capacity or cannot build comparative advantages. 

For instance tourism, eco-tourism and culture offers huge potentials for public private partnerships which will help expand the provision of jobs to the unemployed, address environmental degradation and preserve Ghana’s cultural heritage and sovereignty.

 In this regard, Mr. Amparbeng said the Centres for National Culture must be adequately resourced and its presence seen in all the newly created districts.

 In reaction to the assertion made by Mr. Amparbeng, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Harunna Iddrisu emphasized on the need for reforms particularly in the managerial and operational structures of the power sector.

He explained that such reforms are urgently needed considering the state of the sector saying, it will ultimately help to resolve its recurring challenges including technical losses, illegal connections and other operational inefficiencies as well as its resulting debt stock.

 The Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, Kofi Asamoah also urged government to demonstrate that it is capable of upholding the social contract by ensuring that what is public remains public.

 He also urged the Public Services Workers Union to remain united in the spirit of working class solidarity to continue to protect the interest of working people and fight for an alternative development path that will create descent jobs and enhance the livelihoods of workers.