Ghana’s Energy Ministry asked for calm on December 30, 2025, after new worker protests over plans to bring private sector participation into Electricity Company of Ghana operations. The statement said a transaction adviser would be hired to structure the approach and that ownership would remain public.
Workers had rallied across districts in 2025 against any change they viewed as privatisation. Tension has grown as government weighs reform options for distribution. The ministry framed the next steps as technical, not a sale.
Ministry outlines non-sale PSP approach
Officials reiterated that state ownership remains intact while reforms target losses, billing, and service quality. “Government of Ghana does not intend to, and will not, sell ECG,” the ministry said in a statement on December 30. The government has presented a Multiple Lease Model that segments distribution into regional units managed under time-limited concessions, with oversight held by the state. The approach aims to pull in private expertise and capital where performance gaps persist.
The model is described by officials as phased and competitive, not a divestiture, with labour protections stated in principle. The Multiple Lease Model has been outlined by the Energy Ministry in May materials.
Labour presses for turnaround first
Organised labour maintains that ECG is already improving under an internal turnaround started earlier in 2025. Union leaders argue the plan needs time and funding certainty before any concessions proceed.
They warn that rushing private participation could unsettle jobs and service. “What is happening amounts to an abuse of trust,” PUWU General Secretary Timothy Nyame said. PUWU has asked cabinet to pause the adviser appointment and complete a full evaluation of the turnaround results. The union also wants wider consultation on any concession scope, term, and performance metrics.
Reform timing now hinges on dialogue and clarity around roles. If the adviser procurement moves ahead, terms will define asset boundaries, workforce treatment, and service targets. Either way, ECG’s cash flow and loss reduction remain central to sector stability. The ministry has said talks with PUWU will continue as the framework is refined.