Gov’t hands over ECG revenue, distribution operations to private partner

By Ernest Bako WUBONTO

Government is set to transfer key aspects of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) operations – specifically power distribution and revenue mobilisation – to a private sector partner as part of a broader strategy to improve operational efficiency and curb financial losses.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition Richard Gyan-Mensah disclosed the plan during an ECG Vendors Forum held in Accra.

He clarified that the initiative is not a full privatisation of ECG but a private sector participation (PSP) model designed to attract private investment, introduce innovation and stem inefficiencies.

“We are partnering with the private sector to build a resilient energy industry that supports economic growth,” Gyan-Mensah stated. “However, government will ensure Ghanaian consumers are not short-changed.”

The move comes amid ongoing challenges in the energy sector, including widespread power theft and persistent revenue leakage.

According to the minister, the new PSP arrangement is expected to plug these losses by bringing in the technical expertise and operational rigour of the private sector.

To oversee a seamless transition, the ministry has constituted a technical committee to assess proposals from interested private entities and recommend the most suitable partner.

Gyan-Mensah stressed that while the PSP approach offers solutions, success will depend on collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

Digital innovation in revenue collection

The ECG Vendors Forum brought together over 350 vendors, ECG officials and representatives from digital technology partner TextGenesys Ltd. (TGL Systems) – the company behind ECG’s digital vending platform ‘Unfield Vending’.

The platform, developed in partnership with GCB Bank, has modernised power credit purchases; allowing vendors to self-redeem commissions while enabling ECG to reconcile payments in real-time.

The system is credited with improving transparency and simplifying bill payments for millions of customers.

TGL Systems Managing Director Jeremiah Brown-Coleman highlighted the technology’s significance in addressing ECG’s long-standing revenue collection issues.

“This digital solution simplifies the revenue collection process and ensures secure, real-time reconciliation. Most importantly, it strengthens ECG’s revenue collection mechanisms,” he said.

ECG Managing Director Julius Kwame Kpekpena lauded the forum as a pivotal moment in the transformation of ECG’s operational landscape.

“This marks a new chapter of inclusivity, professionalism and innovation within ECG’s revenue collection ecosystem,” he noted.

Government maintains that the PSP model will be implemented with utmost care to ensure it benefits consumers while advancing Ghana’s broader energy transition and economic development agenda.

The post Gov’t hands over ECG revenue, distribution operations to private partner appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story