The Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has rejected recent calls for the dissolution of the board, describing them as misguided. These calls, made by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), were based on claims of mismanagement and rising financial losses within the company. ACEP pointed to the alarming increase in ECG’s revenue losses, which jumped from GH¢295 million in 2017 to GH¢9.7 billion in 2022.
In response to these concerns, Afenyo-Markin made it clear during the appointment of David Asamoah as the acting Managing Director that dismissing the board is not the solution to the company’s challenges. Instead, he stressed the need for reforms and greater involvement of stakeholders. “I think that is a misplaced position,” he said, referring to the calls for the board’s removal. “However, I accept the fact that we must place our shoulders to the wheel for reforms.”
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that ECG’s efficiency can be improved if the company embraces reform and works closely with both internal and external stakeholders. He noted, “ECG can be very efficient if we subject ourselves to reforms. And reform would involve engaging all stakeholders internally and communicating these to the external stakeholders.”
He also discouraged a blame-shifting approach, urging cooperation rather than pointing fingers. “It is an all-inclusive matter, and I don’t want this blame game approach that we are blaming the public and the public is also blaming us,” he added, calling for collective efforts to address the challenges facing ECG.
Regarding the recent resignation of Samuel Dubik Mahama as the Managing Director of ECG, Afenyo-Markin assured that this change in leadership would not disrupt the power supply. “The fact that we have had changes in management will not mean that you are going to have some interrupted power supply. The entire system of the company is in place, and the company will continue to provide the essential services that it provides for Ghanaians and the country,” he assured.
Source:dailymailgh.com