TUC, PUWU Push Back Against ECG, NEDCo Privatisation

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Public Utility Workers’ Union of Ghana (PUWU) say the sharp rise in revenue at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is clear evidence that the utility can be turned around without being privatized, if workers are fully supported and management is given clear, enforceable deliverables.

At a press conference on the proposed privatization by PUWU in collaboration with the TUC, General Secretary of TUC, Joshua Ansah, pointed to results from a six-month turnaround programme implemented between July and December 2025.

According to the TUC and PUWU, ECG’s average monthly revenue jumped from about GH¢900 million to approximately GH¢1.7 billion, representing nearly a 90 percent increase within half a year.

The unions argued that the figures demonstrate that revenue leakages can be plugged and efficiency improved through internal reforms rather than handing over the company to private operators.

The unions said the revenue gains have had immediate sector-wide benefits, including more regular payments to power producers and improved stability in electricity supply, reducing the frequent threats by Independent Power Producers to shut down plants over unpaid arrears.

According to the TUC and PUWU, the turnaround was achieved through a collaborative framework involving workers, management and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, with revenue mobilization as the core focus.

They stressed that the commitment and professionalism of ECG staff were central to the gains recorded, insisting that similar results could be sustained and scaled if the government deepens structural support and enforces accountability at the management level.

The unions argued that the renewed push to bring in private operators ignores this recent progress and risks dismantling a system that is beginning to work.

They questioned why government would consider providing guarantees, incentives and policy stability to private concessionaires while hesitating to offer the same level of support to ECG under public ownership.

They further cited improvements at the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), where losses have been reduced by about eight percentage points over the past year, as additional proof that performance can improve when workers are empowered and targets are clearly defined.

Calling for an immediate pause in all privatization-related processes, the TUC and PUWU demanded the extension of the current turnaround programme, with clearer deliverables for management and stronger oversight by state regulators.

They maintained that ECG’s recent revenue performance shows the utility is not broken beyond repair and that, with the right support structures, it can deliver reliable and affordable power without being placed in private hands.

 

 

 

 

 

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