President John Dramani Mahama has expressed the possibility of privatizing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as part of efforts to address inefficiencies in the nation’s power distribution system.
Speaking during a meeting with a World Bank delegation on January 8, 2025, in Accra, Mahama highlighted the need for private sector involvement to resolve operational inefficiencies, financial mismanagement, and inadequate service delivery.
The President underscored that privatization could be integral to a broader strategy to modernize and improve Ghana’s energy sector. Drawing on Ghana’s past participation in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact during his tenure as Vice President, Mahama emphasized the importance of efficient energy distribution to support the country’s development goals.
Mahama assured stakeholders that any decision regarding ECG’s future would prioritize public interest while leveraging private sector efficiency to enhance service delivery.
“If we don’t fix the Electricity Company of Ghana, we will continue to have a major problem with our whole power value chain. Bringing in private sector efficiency is something we want to take up again,” Mahama stated.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration with international partners like the World Bank to access the expertise needed to implement reforms. The move aligns with Mahama’s vision of building a sustainable energy sector capable of meeting the growing demands of Ghana’s economy.
He further emphasized that the private sector’s role would bring innovation and much-needed investment to modernize the sector, leading to improved service delivery and reliability. This partnership would also help the government meet its energy goals while ensuring consistent power distribution across the country.
With the energy sector being a critical driver of economic growth, privatizing ECG could potentially transform Ghana’s power distribution landscape, improving reliability and efficiency while addressing persistent challenges in the sector. This change could also unlock new opportunities for job creation and attract global investment into the country’s infrastructure, positioning Ghana as a leader in the region’s energy sector.
