The discourse surrounding the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and its alleged under-declaration of revenue should not be reduced to mere accusations of inefficiency or corporate mismanagement.
Rather, it is a stark reflection of the deeper structural issue plaguing Ghana’s power sector—political interference in revenue management.
ECG, as a state-owned enterprise (SOE), operates in a delicate balance between regulatory compliance and political directives.
It dares not under-declare revenues unless emboldened by a stronger force—one that overrides its regulatory obligations.
Blaming ECG for under-declaring revenue is a misplaced argument that ignores the bigger picture.
The problem is not ECG’s internal financial management but the extent to which political interference dictates revenue decisions.
Until ECG is granted full operational autonomy, its financial performance will always be subject to political expediencies rather than sound commercial principles.
Ghana must choose either to allow ECG to function as a true utility business or continue the cycle of blame without addressing the root cause of the problem.
