Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has strongly opposed any move to increase electricity tariffs, arguing that Ghanaian consumers should not bear the cost of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) inefficiencies.
Speaking during the 2025 National Economic Dialogue in Accra, Dr. Forson emphasized the urgent need for reforms in ECG to improve its financial and operational efficiency instead of continuously burdening consumers with higher tariffs.
“Ghanaians are already struggling with the high cost of living. It is completely unfair to expect them to pay more for electricity simply because ECG has failed to manage its operations efficiently,” he stated.
ECG has faced persistent financial difficulties, recording massive revenue losses due to power theft, technical faults, and unpaid bills by government agencies and private consumers. Despite previous tariff increases, the company still struggles to meet its financial obligations to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), raising concerns about its long-term sustainability.
Dr. Ato Forson noted that ECG currently loses over 30% of the power it distributes, primarily due to operational inefficiencies and mismanagement.
He insisted that instead of passing these costs onto consumers, the company should focus on internal restructuring, improved revenue collection, and stricter enforcement against power theft.
“Before considering any tariff adjustments, ECG must prove that it is running an efficient and accountable system. Consumers should not be punished for the company’s shortcomings,” the Finance Minister stressed.
The Finance Minister’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over the rising cost of utilities. Many Ghanaians argue that past increases in electricity tariffs have not led to better service delivery, with power outages and unreliable supply still being major concerns.
Several civil society organizations and energy sector experts have echoed Dr. Forson’s sentiments, calling for greater transparency in ECG’s financial management. They argue that inefficiencies within ECG have long been ignored, and it is time for the government to demand accountability rather than impose additional costs on consumers.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ato Forson called for a full audit of ECG’s operations to identify areas of inefficiency, implementation of a digital revenue collection system to curb revenue losses, stronger regulatory oversight to ensure ECG operates efficiently before seeking further tariff hikes and investment in renewable energy to diversify the power sector and reduce reliance on expensive thermal generation.
“We need a power sector that is both financially stable and consumer-friendly. This requires strategic reforms, not just increasing tariffs at the expense of ordinary Ghanaians,” he concluded.
Story by Freedom Lavoe.
