Bongo Member of Parliament, Edward Bawa, has expressed his opposition to the suggestion made by the Asantehene to diversify key institutions in the power sector.
The Asantehene had proposed that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), and Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) should be privatized in order to improve their efficiency.
During an appearance on TV3’s Key Points program, Bawa argued that handing over these institutions to the private sector would be a “suicidal” move. He emphasized that no country would allow the private sector to control its power system, especially critical entities like GRIDCo.
The Asantehene had made his proposal while speaking at the commissioning of a 430-kilometre natural gas pipeline by Genser Energy in Kumasi. He suggested that privatizing these institutions would attract more investors, create more employment opportunities, and improve the overall performance of the power sector.
Despite the Asantehene’s arguments, Bawa maintained his stance against privatization, citing the government’s inability to maintain and run these institutions effectively. He called for a realistic assessment of the roles of the government and the private sector in managing key industries like electricity generation and distribution.
