ECG private sector participation to be determined after transaction advisor's report in October — Energy Ministry

The extent of private sector participation in the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will be determined after a transaction advisor appointed by the government submits its report in the first week of October 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has disclosed.

The report is expected to assess the proposed private sector arrangement and make recommendations for consideration by the government before further decisions are taken.

The Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Ministry, Richmond Rockson, said the transaction advisor was expected to submit its initial findings by the “latest first week of October”, after which the government would engage relevant stakeholders on the recommendations.

Mr Rockson made the disclosure in a television interview on JoyNews monitored by Graphic Online on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

ECG Revenue Shortfalls
Mr Rockson said the government was spending an average of $1.5 billion annually to cover shortfalls in the energy sector, placing a significant financial burden on the state.

He said ECG’s revenue collection performance improved from 48% in 2025 to 51% in January 2026, 57% in February, 70% in March and 71% in April.

However, the collection rate subsequently declined to 58% in May before recovering to about 70% in June 2026.

According to Mr Rockson, the revenue shortfall in 2025 amounted to GH¢9.2 billion in uncollected revenue.

He said the situation affected the government’s ability to meet its financial obligations to independent power producers, as well as the Volta River Authority and Bui Power Authority, for electricity already generated.

Scope of Private Participation
Mr Rockson said the government had yet to determine whether the proposed private sector arrangement would extend to the bulk supply point, where electricity leaves the national grid operated by GRIDCo before being supplied to ECG for distribution.

He explained that Cabinet’s approval for private sector participation, granted in April 2025, was limited to billing and revenue collection.

He said the transaction advisor’s recommendations would therefore be important in determining the eventual scope of the arrangement.

TUC Raises Concerns
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, said the union had not been consulted over the appointment of the transaction advisor or the terms of reference for the assignment.

“Whatever that transaction advisor advises, it's an advice to government. We will not be guided by it,” he said.

The transaction advisor’s report is consequently expected to provide the basis for further discussions between the government and stakeholders on the extent of private sector involvement in ECG and whether the power distribution company will retain control over the distribution of electricity.