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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has declared that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) are strategic national assets that must remain under public ownership to safeguard Ghana’s economic and energy security.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) of the TUC criticised government plans to introduce what it describes as “private sector participation” in the two power distribution companies, insisting that the move is effectively privatisation.
According to the union, proposals being considered would allow private operators to take over electricity distribution from the bulk supply point to the final consumer, a development it says amounts to dismantling ECG and NEDCo.
The TUC rejected arguments that the utilities are inefficient and beyond reform, pointing to recent gains achieved under a six-month union-led turnaround programme implemented between July and December 2025. It said ECG’s average monthly revenue increased from about GH¢900 million to approximately GH¢1.75 billion, representing a significant improvement in revenue mobilisation.
Labour leaders said the improved financial performance has stabilised power supply and ensured regular payments to independent power producers, reducing the risk of generation shutdowns. They added that these achievements have been acknowledged by senior government officials, including the Ministers of Finance and Energy and Green Transition.
At NEDCo, the TUC noted that targeted loss-reduction strategies have resulted in a steady decline in distribution losses, even as the company continues to serve a high proportion of lifeline consumers who benefit from subsidised electricity tariffs.
The union argued that rather than privatising the utilities, government should extend and review the current turnaround programme, strengthen institutional oversight, end political interference, and hold management accountable for clear performance targets.
The TUC stressed that maintaining ECG and NEDCo as public utilities is essential to guaranteeing affordable and equitable access to electricity, protecting jobs, and preserving national sovereignty. It warned that organised labour will strongly resist any attempt to privatise the two companies.
Yaw Boagyan
