President John Dramani Mahama has firmly ruled out the privatisation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), assuring Ghanaians that his administration remains committed to keeping the power distributor under public control while working to improve its performance through strategic partnerships.
Speaking during the 2025 May Day celebrations at the Black Star Square in Accra on Thursday, May 1, President Mahama addressed growing public concern over the future of ECG, amid fears that the company’s mounting debt and operational inefficiencies could lead to a sell-off.
“The ECG has been brought to its knees by a culture of poor governance over the last eight years, resulting in a debt of 68 billion Ghana cedis and rising,” he said. “If we do not take proactive measures, our power system will collapse. We can only bring down tariffs if we improve the efficiency of the distribution of power.”
President Mahama stressed that his administration is focused on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the power sector through public-private collaboration, rather than full privatisation.
“Let me assure you that it is not my intention to privatise ECG as an institution. Our attention is more on public-private collaboration to inject efficiency into our downstream electricity distribution system,” he stated.
The president’s remarks are expected to calm labour unions and energy sector stakeholders, many of whom have voiced opposition to privatisation plans out of concern for job security and public accountability.
His pledge comes at a time when electricity consumers across the country are demanding stable, affordable power supply, and greater transparency from utility providers.
President Mahama’s administration has prioritised reforms in the power sector as part of its broader economic recovery strategy, including investments in renewable energy, grid expansion, and tariff restructuring.
