14 Key Points from the show on April 20

On April 20, 2024, three issues were discussed on the Key Points show. 

There were; ECG Board challenges constitutionality of PURC fine over service delivery breaches, Government commissions relocated Ameri Power Plant and sentencing of former MASLOC CEO and fight against public sector Corruption.

Here are 14 Key Points discussed on the show:

GRIDCO, BUI POWER, NEDCO, ECG will undergo merger – Kwadwo Poku

Energy expert and chairman of the energy subcommittee for the NPP 2024 Campaign, Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku, has stated that cabinet has approved a merger of some entities in the power sector for supply efficiency and possible private sector participation.

They include the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Bui Power, the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO), and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The energy expert, however, maintained that the privatisation of GRIDCo and the Volta River Authority (VRA) cannot be “a wholesale sale of those entities” because of the technical and the monopoly role they play.

“There is a lot going on…NEDCo and ECG there is a cabinet approval for the two to be merged.

You can make the private sector play a part, but you can’t hand over everything,” he said.

The topic for discussion was the suggestion by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, that government must focus on formulating policies for effective governance of the various sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the commissioning of a 430-kilometre natural gas pipeline by Genser Energy, in Kumasi on Wednesday, April 17, he said “It’s about time that the government realizes that it’s not going to work for the government to be involved in setting up companies without involving the private sector, it doesn’t work.

You cannot list an unprofitable organization on the stock exchange,” he said.

Speaking during the commissioning of a 430-kilometre natural gas pipeline by Genser Energy, in Kumasi on Wednesday, April 17, he said “It’s about time that the government realizes that it’s not going to work for the government to be involved in setting up companies without involving the private sector, it doesn’t work.

“The government should concentrate on policies and involve the private sector and you can attract more investors into the country which will create more employment.

“VRA and others are all government establishments, let’s give it out and diversify them into the private sector and get more money there and get the right people to do it.

You can make the private sector play a part, but you can’t hand over everything,” he said.

The topic for discussion was the suggestion by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, that government must focus on formulating policies for effective governance of the various sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the commissioning of a 430-kilometre natural gas pipeline by Genser Energy, in Kumasi on Wednesday, April 17, he said “It’s about time that the government realizes that it’s not going to work for the government to be involved in setting up companies without involving the private sector, it doesn’t work.

It’ll be suicidal, a threat to national security if private sector controls ECG, VRA, GRIDCo – Bawa

Bongo lawmaker, Edward Bawa has said that handing over the management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) to the private sector will be suicidal for the country.

In his view, such an action will threaten the security of the nation.

“I respectfully disagree with Otumfuo, that would be suicidal, there is no country that would do that.

Otumfuo made a good call to privatise ECG, VRA, GRIDCo; let’s isolate politics from power sector – Ben Boakye

Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ben Boakye has said the call by the Asantehene to privatise the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) is a good call.

However, he said, there is more to it than just making these institutions controlled by the private sector.

He called for the isolation of politics from the power sector.

“It is a good call, but it is way more than that, we have to ensure that how we did with PDS does not happen.

“Let us isolate politics from it, bring in the private sector so that the state can control them,” he said.

The Asantehene, while justifying his call said that privatizing these institutions will make these institutions function as expected of them.

12.

You cannot list an unprofitable organization on the stock exchange,” he said.

Mr Poku who is the Chairman of the Dr Bawumia’s Manifesto Committee, said this in response to a suggestion by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that government should focus on formulating policies to improve various sectors of the economy.

Speaking during the commissioning of a 430-kilometre natural gas pipeline by Genser Energy, in Kumasi on Wednesday, April 17, he said “VRA and others are all government establishments, let’s give it out and diversify them into the private sector and get more money there and get the right people to do it.