The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has declared its strong opposition to any attempt to privatise the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Deputy Secretary General of the TUC, Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, said organised labour is prepared to resist any policy aimed at handing over the state power distributor to private operators.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, May 16, Dr Otoo said labour unions are worried about ongoing discussions on restructuring state-owned enterprises under Ghana’s economic reform agenda.
“The TUC and its affiliates will also be ready to ensure that we use every legitimate means to stop this privatisation,” he said.
His comments come after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged Ghana to speed up private sector participation in ECG’s operations.
The IMF raised concerns that persistent challenges in the energy sector continue to threaten Ghana’s public finances and overall economic stability.
The call was made during discussions between an IMF staff team led by Ruben Atoyan and Ghanaian authorities in Accra from April 29 to May 15 as part of the sixth and final review of Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility programme.
In a statement issued after the mission, the IMF said stronger reforms in the energy and cocoa sectors are needed to protect public resources.
However, Dr. Otoo argued that ECG has made significant progress in improving revenue collection and expanding operational reach.
He said these improvements do not justify transferring control of the company to private entities.
Dr. Otoo also warned against adopting private concession models in electricity distribution, citing concerns about affordability, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.
According to him, reforms in the power sector should focus on improving efficiency without undermining public ownership.
He further cautioned that privatisation could result in higher electricity tariffs and reduced access for ordinary Ghanaians.
