President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s firm stance against illegal mining, pledging to intensify efforts to dismantle operations that threaten Ghana’s natural environment.
In his May Day speech, he also addressed growing concerns over the country’s energy sector, firmly ruling out any plans to privatise the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
“The fight against Galamsey is a complex one, yet, we will not give up,” he said, underlining his administration’s resolve to continue military-led interventions targeting illegal mining syndicates.
“Our gallant men of the Armed Forces and Security Services are up to the fight, and will continue to score successes against the selfish companies and individuals who are destroying our forests and polluting our water bodies,” he said. “As far as the fight against GALAMSEY is concerned, I say ‘aluta’ continua.”
The president’s renewed commitment comes amid heightened public concern over the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining, particularly in forest reserves and along major rivers. The recent sanctioning of Akonta Mining Company Limited has brought further attention to the issue.
ECG in Crisis but Will Not Be Sold – Mahama
Mahama also addressed the deepening financial woes of ECG, revealing that the state-owned power utility is now burdened with over GHS 68 billion in debt.
“The ECG has been brought to its knees by a culture of poor governance over the last eight years,” he said. “If we do not do something drastic, our whole power sector will collapse.”
Despite the urgency, Mahama pushed back on speculation about a potential sale of the utility.
“Let me assure you, it is not my intention to privatise the ECG as an institution,” he stated. “Read my lips for emphasis, the Electricity Company as an institution will not be privatised.”
Instead, the government will pursue targeted public-private partnerships to inject efficiency into ECG’s operations. Citing a previous initiative under his leadership, Mahama highlighted Enclave Power, a private company operating in the Free Zones enclave, which handles metering and billing while maintaining a 99% collection rate and making timely payments to ECG for bulk power.
“This is an existing example,” he noted. “I’m sure we can make our electricity distribution more efficient through public-private partnerships.”
Energy Sector Reform and Accountability
Mahama’s comments appear to align with broader calls from energy experts and civil society for reforms that improve efficiency and financial sustainability in the sector without relinquishing state control.
Ghana’s power sector has long been plagued by inefficiencies, high operational costs, and weak revenue collection. Recent controversies, including the disappearance of high-value electrical cables from ECG’s inventory, have further highlighted the urgent need for reform and improved governance.
