Ghana’s electricity sector is facing growing unrest as the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) ramps up its opposition to government plans to introduce private sector participation in the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
A sea of red flags now signals the workers’ displeasure across all 92 district offices and 14 regional administrative centres.
The protest action, which began quietly, was triggered after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson confirmed that the Cabinet had approved the controversial proposal.
At the heart of the agitation is the Electro Volta House in Accra, the headquarters of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and ECG.
There, protest banners and red cloths have been prominently displayed on signposts, with workers preparing for intensified actions.
Security officers at the premises confirmed to Citi News that larger demonstrations are expected to begin on Monday, April 28, with workers donning red armbands and staging symbolic protests.
PUWU has warned that allowing private interests into the management of ECG and NEDCo could severely affect the conditions of service for workers and disrupt the broader management of the country’s electricity distribution systems.
Union leaders insist that the protest is just the beginning, promising to mount more pressure until the government rethinks the move.
