Accra: Dr Ernest Sanyare Warmann Beinpuo, a Nuclear Regulatory Scientist, has described as 'misguided' the belief that privatising the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) holds the key to solving Ghana's electricity challenges. President John Dramani Mahama recently suggested the possibility of privatising the country's power distributor to help address longstanding issues such as operational inefficiencies, financial mismanagement, and inadequate service delivery.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Beinpuo, in an interview, strongly opposed any suggestion to privatise ECG, stating that 'privatisation does not guarantee efficiency or affordability.' He argued that privatisation often results in higher tariffs and reduced access for low-income households. Dr Beinpuo emphasized that before considering privatisation, the government should address inefficiencies in the generation and transmission sectors, which significantly contribute to the country's power problems.
The Radiation Protection expert viewed ECG as a strategic national asset with the potential to generate revenue, create jobs, and drive industrial growth if managed effectively. He warned that privatising ECG could risk handing over control of a critical public utility to private interests prioritising profits over public welfare. Dr Beinpuo urged the government to focus on implementing strong governance, addressing corruption, and investing in modern infrastructure to make ECG profitable and sustainable, ensuring equitable and affordable electricity for all citizens.
Dr Beinpuo further argued that if the government could not manage such a vital national asset profitably, 'then perhaps it is the government itself that needs restructuring, not ECG.' He cited examples from China, where state institutions successfully manage electricity generation, transmission, and distribution profitably, demonstrating that state-owned enterprises can thrive under competent management while efficiently managing other critical sectors like water and telecommunications.
