President of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has asked the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition not to privatise aspects of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), as the government is considering.
Despite admitting that the previous directors of the company left humongous debts for the state, he believes the government can implement measures to avert the challenges in the sector instead of privatising aspects of it.
His comments come on the back of a recent revelation by the sector Minister, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, that the remaining fuel to power the nation’s energy plants could not last over four days if funds were not secured to pay for the fuel they had requested.
This has brought the debate over the challenges facing the energy sector, which has not been fully resolved by successive governments, with the current administration considering a privatisation model to help avert the situation.
In a circular issued by Mr. Cudjoe on Saturday, May 17, 2025, he proposed some roadmaps for the Ministry to implement for at least a year and a half before considering privatisation if the challenges still persist after the period.
As part of the roadmaps, Mr. Cudjoe is suggesting that the Minister and his Chief Director sign up to a framework that clearly defines the vision for the energy sector with all stakeholders to ensure the provision of power in a “cost-sensitive” manner.
Also, he proposes “open data and radical transparency” as part of the roadmap for the Ministry in saving the energy sector, particularly the ECG, before privatisation comes into play.
The President of IMANI Africa also wants the Ministry to periodically update the public on the activities of the power distribution company while taking suggestions from the public on various aspects of its operations through town hall meetings to aid monitoring and evaluation of the ECG’s activities.
According to IMANI, the model, which they refer to as Revitalising the Economy through Stewardship & Ethical Transformation (RESET), if implemented, will begin to yield results within six months, which he proposes is the best way forward instead of privatisation.
Find below the full circular issued by the IMANI President:
By the way, I really do not like the ‘mobo’ ( forlorn) tone of my brother, the energy minister, when he speaks about the challenges of the energy sector. True, the previous directors left humongous debts, but I assume he knew all of these and must have had a good practical plan while in opposition. Power is everything – the lifeblood of any economy – even more so, a 24-hour economy.
I have had a rethink, at least for now, about private sector participation in ECG. It seems to me that instead of rushing to privatise aspects of ECG, we should try the following first for at least a year and a half.
First, the energy minister and his chief director should sign on to a framework of openness and stakeholder co-creation of a defined vision for the sector- provision of reliable power in an efficient cost-sensitive manner. Stakeholders here apply to all in the power sector.
Second, they should commit to open data and radical transparency.
Third, they should hold bi-weekly hybrid (physical and virtual) townhalls where every aspect of the procurement, performance, operations, milestones tracking, and monitoring & evaluation elements shall be openly discussed. Any answers not immediately available shall be made available within a week.
Fourth, citizens who tune in can join the stakeholder group for the Vision. A simple digital enrolment system shall be used to keep things organised.
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Fifth, every month, a poll shall be taken to take the pulse of the stakeholder group. Only stakeholders who made it to at least one of the townhalls can participate.
At the six month mark, they will be celebrated for the progress made and given feedback to improve.
Naturally, this model, we call RESET at IMANI – Revitalising the Economy through Stewardship & Ethical Transformation – will not replace the formal audits and other PFM controls. Our hope is that it will invigorate them, bring the essence in them to the fore and make them more meaningful to citizens.
