Accra: The government has inaugurated an eight-member Steering Committee to oversee the reintroduced Multiple Lease Model (MLM) aimed at enhancing private sector involvement in electricity distribution. This initiative seeks to segment electricity distribution into regional units managed by private operators, thereby attracting investors, improving efficiency, reducing losses, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
According to Ghana News Agency, the PSP Steering Committee is chaired by Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition, with Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance, serving as co-chair. Other members include Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade and Agribusiness; Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Attorney General; and Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State for Government Communications. The Committee also includes Mr. Julius Kpekpena, Acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG); Mr. John Okine Yamoah, Managing Director of Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo); and Madam Baba Akon, who serves as Secretary.
Mr. Collins Adomako-Mensah, Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, emphasized that the MLM is key to the government’s energy sector recovery strategy. He explained that the Steering Committee would oversee the PSP rollout, coordinate with ECG, NEDCo, and regulatory bodies, and monitor key milestones. Mr. Jinapor highlighted the Committee’s role in assessing and offering recommendations on transaction documents, procurement procedures, draft agreements, risk mitigation plans, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder communication.
The PSP Implementation Unit within the Energy Ministry will serve as the Secretariat, providing administrative and technical support. Mr. Jinapor directed the Committee to complete the procurement of technical, financial, and legal transaction advisors by May 31, 2025, to enable detailed implementation. He also projected that by September 2025, the first phase of competitive bidding documents for private concessionaires would be issued.
Additionally, three sub-committees-Technical, Governance and Regulatory, and Stakeholder Management-have been formed to assist the process, including auditing the PDS deal. Mr. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, Chair of the Technical Sub-Committee, called for public support for the Committee’s work. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in the Committee’s ability to guide the restructuring of the power distribution sector to ensure customer service satisfaction.
