Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has addressed concerns about the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). He assured the public that the government is not selling ECG. Instead, it has adopted a concession model to improve efficiency with private sector involvement.

“We are not selling ECG. Let me make that clear,” Jinapor said on PM Express on Wednesday, April 30. “That decision is final. Ignore any misinformation.”

Jinapor explained that Cabinet chose a model that allows private companies to participate in ECG’s operations without transferring ownership. “Private participation is key, but we’re not selling the company,” he said.

Under the new structure, ECG will act as a holding company. The company will divide its operations into three or four zones, with private companies managing each zone.

“Roland company, for example, could manage one of these areas,” Jinapor explained. “They’ll handle operations in their zone.”

The minister described how the new model works. “Each month, we’ll check how much power you received—say, 20 megawatts. Then we’ll compare it with actual usage and bill you accordingly. It’s your responsibility to collect payments from customers.”

He clarified that companies won’t pay upfront. “They’ll provide a deposit or financial guarantee. We’ll start with a request for qualification (RFQ) to screen applicants. Then, we’ll follow up with a request for proposal (RFP) to choose the best companies.”

Jinapor emphasized that the process would be transparent and competitive. “The selected company must have the financial and technical capacity to handle the task. This isn’t about awarding contracts to friends. We’ll hire a transaction advisor and use competitive bidding.”

He assured that ECG’s interests would remain protected. The private companies will take on the responsibility of selling and collecting payments. “You’ll buy bulk power from ECG and resell it,” Jinapor said. “ECG gets its share, and the private companies will manage the rest.”

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will still regulate the pricing. “PURC sets the price, and you can’t charge above it,” he added. “The private companies must manage the sales and deposit the payments into a dedicated account. ECG will get its share, and the rest belongs to the private company.”

Jinapor reiterated that the government isn’t privatising ECG. “The company remains state-owned. We’re making it better, not selling it.”