ECG PRIVATIZATION NOT AN OPTION-PUWU DARES GOV'T.

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The General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers Union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, Bondzi-Quaye, says despite the numerous challenges bedeviling the Electricity Company of Ghana, privatizing it is not the solution. 

According to him, renting the ECG out for 25 years will not solve the problems of the Company, but rather worsen the economic situation of the citizenry. 

He said if ECG is privatized, tariffs will hit the roof, rural electrification will suffer and many workers will lose their jobs. 

Mr. Bondzi-Quaye said these during the eleventh Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Public Utility Workers Union in Kumasi. 

Touching on the theme, “Ensuring An Efficient And Reliable Service Delivery In The Utilities Sector: "The Role Of Stakeholders”, Mr. Bondzi-Quaye cited examples of concession in some countries such as South Africa, Senegal, Uganda and Nigeria, that led to increased tariffs beyond the affordability level of the people.

 The General Secretary said the Public Utility Workers Union is opposed to this reform and called for homegrown policies to solve the problems facing the ECG.

 He said a study by the International Finance Corporation on the ECG on which the concession is premised has stated that the company’s problems could be solved without giving it to a private entity. 

These challenges include, failure of government to pay its debt to the ECG, unfair tariff structures, political interferences and inadequate power supply for distribution. 

 The Secretary-General of the GTUC, Kofi Asamoah said erratic power supply is a challenge that must be resolved but not with concession or private sector participation, and assured the Public Utility Workers Union’s support in its quest to reject the privatization of the ECG. 

He also urged stakeholders to take a serious look at their roles and responsibilities in order to help solve the challenges bedeviling the sector. 

The Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon advised the Union to fashion out programmes that can meet challenges facing the company and urged them to go back to the negotiating tables to argue out their points well. 

He also urged the leaders to be critical and analytic in the decision making in order to provide quality and efficient services to the public. 

Mr. Ackon promised to convey their displeasure about the renting out of the ECG to the Government.

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