A former National Youth Organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC) says government privatisation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been everything but transparent.
Abu Ramadan says documents he intercepted show a clear case of conflict of interest on the part of some officials and state institutions involved in the negotiation.
“The entire arrangement is shrouded in acts that lack transparency through the process because at a certain point a document that was authored by one of the partners working denying the entire transaction,” he told Joy News’ Kwabena Kyenkyenhene on AM Show on JOYNEWS channel on MultiTV.
Privatisation of the nation’s power distributor on grounds of inefficiency and indebtedness by government has triggered several reactions from Ghanaians especially ECG workers.
Last week, workers of ECG declared a three-day strike which led to scores of customers stranded as they were unable to buy prepaid credit at their offices. Joy News visit to some offices shows some of the workers were loitering about and entrance of some of the offices clad in red fabric.
Related Article: ‘We’re not on strike; we’re protesting sale of national asset’ – ECG workers
National Secretary of ECG Senior Staff, Patrick Binyemi, told Joy News they are protesting the unfair treatment meted to them by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) – a body which was instrumental in the negotiation.
He described the privatization of ECG as unfair and wondered why anybody with the interest of the nation at heart would allow such injustice to be visited on the nation.
MiDA has already shortlisted four companies for selection but Mr Ramadan says the process smacks of underhand dealings.
He described as disingenuous the thought to privatise the company adding, “what prevents government from saying we are going to float shares to the people?”
But presidential staffer and head of the Citizens Complaint Unit at the Presidency, Dr Clement Apaak, has debunked the allegation.
He says MiDA ensured that the concession process is transparent and done in the interest of Ghanaians.
Even though he agreed ECG workers have the right to protest, he said it was unfair for them to punish Ghanaians who genuinely want to access their services.
“In the history of other organisation, changes occur [and] some have gone through different structural re-organisations so this is not different,” he said, adding, “That is why I feel this action where people are made to sleep in darkness is unfair.”
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