A political risk analyst, Dr. Theo Acheampong, has endorsed the call for privatising parts of Ghana’s power sector as a crucial step to alleviate the financial burden on consumers amidst an impending power crisis caused by fuel shortages.
President John Dramani Mahama recently convened a technical team to identify solutions to the energy sector’s challenges, including the consideration of privatising the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
President Mahama argues that private sector involvement in ECG’s management could resolve persistent issues such as operational inefficiencies, financial mismanagement, and poor service delivery.
Speaking during a meeting with a World Bank delegation on January 8, 2025, Mahama highlighted privatisation as a potential pillar of a comprehensive strategy to revitalise the energy sector.
He assured stakeholders that any plans to restructure ECG would include extensive consultations to ensure the public interest is safeguarded while improving performance.
Dr. Acheampong echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for structural reforms within ECG.
“I think some form of privatisation would have to be done fundamentally with the way the ECG has been run,” he stated in an interview on the Big Issue on Channel One TV.
He called for bold measures to address the inefficiencies hampering the power distribution system.