The Senior Staff Association of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has bemoaned recent comments by President Dramani Mahama on the company’s privatization.

The company in recent times has received a lot of bashing from Ghanaians and the corporate world as a result of high electricity bills and faulty prepaid meters.

In responding to the concerns of Ghanaians, the President stated, “…today I can see a similar development, we have a very inefficient distribution system on the electricity…..we had this system for years and it’s not working and the only way to fix it is to take a risk….”.

Speaking on Atinka FM’s evening political programme , ‘Simpieso’ Tuesday, Ransford Quaye Larbi, a member of the Senior Staff Association, remarked that workers are aggrieved and feel that such a move will not augur well for the country. According to the concerned members, the President has contradicted himself taking into consideration what he said on May Day and his current statement. President Mahama assured the workers on May Day that ECG was not for sale.

They also mentioned that most of the operations and contracts that ECG is handling are carried out by well-meaning Ghanaians and that privatization of the company will result in termination of their operations, hence causing huge losses to all the country.

They argued further that privatizing the company will result in laying most of the workers off- a situation they fear so much since the affected people will be left to their piteous fate in this already stretched economy.

On seeking an expert’s opinion on the issues, Dr. Steve Mante Yaw, explained that taking such a decision will have adverse effects on the country and that fixing the problem has nothing to do with privatization. He described such a decision as a lazy way of solving problems.

He further explained how Ghana Water Company and Ghana Airways have suffered from such reckless decision and how Vodafone Ghana Limited is still struggling. He finally admonished that the country should be careful not to tread on a slippery path.


Click to watch Mamama’s comment on ECG privatization