Gov’t meets PUWU today over ECG, NEDCo privatisation plans
The government is meeting the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) today, Monday, September 28, 2026, as consultations continue over plans to introduce private-sector participation in the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The meeting will give the union the opportunity to formally present its concerns, proposals, and alternative measures for improving the financial and operational performance of the two state-owned electricity distributors.
PUWU has strongly opposed the proposed private-sector involvement, arguing that recent improvements in ECG’s revenue mobilisation prove the company can be turned around with continued government support and investment, without bringing in a private operator.
PUWU General Secretary Timothy Nyame has noted that about 40 per cent of ECG’s operations already involve private-sector players in areas such as billing software, meter installation and new service connections, questioning the need for further private participation in retail operations. The union cites ECG’s revenue growth from about GH¢900 million to GH¢2.2 billion as evidence of progress under existing management.
The union has also announced plans for a nationwide demonstration on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to protest the proposal. The action, organised by the Senior Staff Union and Junior Staff Union and convened by PUWU, will take place across all ECG operational regions and culminate in the presentation of a petition to President John Dramani Mahama.
The government, however, maintains that the consultation process must allow all options to be assessed before a final decision is taken.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, September 25, said government understands PUWU’s concerns and intends to keep the union involved throughout the process.
“We have a meeting scheduled for Monday,” he said. “I understand their concerns, and we share in their concerns, but they should let us go through the process. They will be involved all through the process; they will not be left out.”
He said the meeting would also allow government to assess the revenue improvements reported by ECG workers and consider their argument that further state investment could eliminate the need for private-sector involvement.
Mr Gyan-Mensah disclosed that while ECG’s monthly revenue collection has improved to an average of about GH¢1.8 billion, it still falls about GH¢700 million short of the benchmark required to meet its financial obligations, with current expectations pegged at about GH¢2.9 billion monthly.
He said a transaction adviser working on the proposed private-sector participation has been tasked to engage workers and other stakeholders, with feedback from workers, civil society organisations, Parliament, customers and industry expected to inform a report to guide government’s final decision.
“We have not exhausted all the avenues before the implementation,” he stressed.
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