Consumers cannot be forced to pay higher tariffs to cover ECG’s inefficiencies – Ato Forson calls for reform

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is facing a severe financial crisis, draining $2.1 billion from the national budget over two years.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson warned that without urgent reforms, the energy sector could collapse under mounting debts, projected to exceed $9 billion by 2026.

ECG collects only 62% of the electricity it distributes, suffering high losses, non-payment issues, and poor cash management.

Despite government bailouts and tariff adjustments, the company remains financially unstable. Dr. Forson proposed revenue collection enforcement, loss reduction, privatization, cost-cutting, and financial accountability as key solutions.

He stressed that continued inefficiency in ECG threatens Ghana’s economic stability, calling for immediate and radical reforms to prevent further financial strain on the country.