Jack Wright || Political Activist
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), a once vital institution for the delivery of power across the country, is on the brink of collapse.
Mismanagement, inefficiency, and political interference under the current Nana Addo-Dr. Bawumia administration has significantly worsened the state of the company, threatening its financial viability. If the trajectory is not changed, ECG’s future could be one of bankruptcy and failure.
One glaring example of the mismanagement within ECG is the trend of sending some selected union members, and some top management officials abroad for lavish vacations to places such as Dubai.
These trips are not strategic retreats or training programs designed to improve skills, but rather indulgent holidays aimed at buying the silence of union members.
By keeping the union leaders comfortable and content, those in power ensure that the government’s unlawful interference in the operations and finances of ECG goes unchecked.
These holiday trips are nothing short of bribes meant to suppress dissent within the company. Instead of raising concerns about inefficiencies or pushing for reforms that could save ECG, union members are compromised, leaving the company to continue on a path of ruin.
This tactic of using luxury vacations to placate union members is not only wasteful but deeply immoral at a time when the company is facing serious financial challenges.
Another critical issue that has been weighing ECG down is overstaffing. Under the Nana Addo-Dr. Bawumia administration, there has been an influx of party loyalists into the company.
This “job for the boys” mentality, where political affiliates are awarded positions within the company irrespective of competence or qualifications, has drained ECG’s resources. Overstaffing has led to a bloated payroll, placing unnecessary financial strain on the company.
Rather than streamlining operations and focusing on efficiency, the leadership has prioritized political patronage, with little regard for the long-term consequences.
This patronage system has not only undermined morale within the company but has led to an environment where meritocracy is sidelined in favor of political connections.
A severe lack of investment has further compounded ECG’s problems. Instead of reinvesting revenues to improve infrastructure, expand capacity, and modernize equipment, the company has been starved of resources.
The result is an outdated and unreliable power system that is unable to meet the growing demand for electricity across Ghana.
The government has failed to prioritize long-term investment, preferring short-term political gains over sustainable energy solutions.
Additionally, Ghana’s fluctuating currency has exacerbated the financial woes of ECG. As the cedi continues to lose value, ECG struggles to service its debts, particularly those denominated in foreign currencies.
While currency fluctuations may not be entirely within the control of the government, the poor economic management of the current administration has worsened the situation.
Dr. Bawumia, who was once touted as an economic whiz, has failed to stabilize the currency, adding to the financial burden of companies like ECG.
The interference of the government in ECG’s affairs has also created a toxic environment where good governance and transparency are sacrificed for political expediency.
Government officials are alleged to have unlawfully dipped into the company’s coffers, redirecting funds for political use rather than allowing the company to invest in necessary upgrades and operational improvements.
The culmination of these factors—lavish union holidays, overstaffing, lack of investment, currency issues, and government interference—has placed ECG on the fast track to bankruptcy.
Under the current administration, it is clear that the leadership is unwilling or unable to take the necessary steps to reverse course.
The situation at ECG is emblematic of a broader pattern of mismanagement and corruption under the Nana Addo-Dr. Bawumia administration.
Ghanaians must ask themselves if they are willing to continue on this path. Is this the future we want for our public institutions—one of waste, inefficiency, and eventual collapse?
It is time for Ghanaians to demand better. The upcoming elections offer a critical opportunity to vote out the NPP, Nana Addo, Dr. Bawumia, and their “mafia group” who have overseen the rot in ECG and other public institutions.
By doing so, Ghanaians will not only be voting for change but also for accountability. This will mark the beginning to rebuild ECG and other institutions that have been destroyed by the current administration’s mismanagement.
Let us remember that the power to demand change lies in our hands. The future of ECG, and by extension the future of Ghana, depends on the choices we make today.
Jack Wright
Political Activist
