The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to personally intervene in the ongoing “crisis” at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The group insists that while Parliament and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) have important oversight roles, only the Presidency wields the authority and influence needed to confront the entrenched inefficiencies and corruption that continue to plague the foremost power distributor of the nation.
In its petition cited by The High Street Journal, FABAG, led by its chairman, Rev. John Awuni, argued that ECG’s challenges go beyond regulation and legislative review. He says they are rooted in deep political and institutional dysfunction that can only be resolved through strong executive action.
The petition outlines, at least, three reasons why it believes only the president can intervene in the issues of the ECG to restore efficiency and sustainability.
Vested Interests Too Powerful for Routine Oversight
According to Rev. Awuni, one of the biggest obstacles to ECG’s reform is the network of vested interests that benefit from the system’s inefficiencies. He alleges that powerful actors profit from electricity theft, illegal connections, and inflated procurement contracts.
These are not issues that regulation or legislation alone can fix. He believes the situation requires the full weight of presidential authority to cut through.
Analysts within the sector have long alleged that attempts to sanitize ECG’s operations often face internal resistance from individuals and groups with political or financial stakes in maintaining the status quo.
FABAG believes a presidential directive can break this entrenched web of influence and restore integrity and discipline within the company.
“We believe that powerful actors benefit from electricity theft, illegal connections, and corrupt procurement. So only the Presidency can cut through this resistance,” the petition noted.
Reform Requires Inter-Ministerial Coordination
FABAG further argues that ECG’s challenges are too interconnected across government institutions to be solved in silos. The petition highlights that the company’s financial and operational problems transcend multiple sectors.
This includes Finance, Energy, ICT, and even National Security, making piecemeal solutions ineffective.
For FABAG, what ECG needs is not another round of policy pronouncements but a coordinated national effort. He is therefore urging the President to establish a Presidential Task Force to align ministries and agencies toward a single goal to end ECG’s inefficiency and restore public confidence in the power sector.
“ECG’s problems span Finance, Energy, ICT, and Law Enforcement. A Presidential Task Force is essential to align ministries and agencies,” parts of the petition read.
A Signal to Investors
The petition also underscores the international dimension of ECG’s credibility problem.
FABAG notes that Ghana’s development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), see ECG’s reform as a “litmus test” for the country’s energy sector governance.
Rev. John Awuni says in the eyes of global investors, ECG’s inefficiency is not just a company problem, it’s a national credibility issue.
“A strong presidential directive would send the clearest signal that Ghana is serious about reforming its utilities and protecting both citizens and investors.”
A Call for Leadership, Not Just Oversight
For FABAG, what Ghana’s energy sector, especially ECG, needs now is leadership from the Presidency. A kind of leadership that can unite institutions, confront vested interests, and drive accountability from the top.
ECG’s reform must be led from the Jubilee House, not from conference halls. Rev. John Awuni maintains that the office of the president has the power to align, enforce, and deliver real change, and not the regulator or parliament.
