John Jinapor, appointed as the Energy Minister, has instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to halt all payments for supplies without delay, as part of his initiative to address inefficiencies and stabilize the energy sector.
Jinapor delivered a strong message to ECG employees, especially those in the finance department, warning that there would be significant repercussions if they fail to comply with this order.
In a conversation with Eyewitness News on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Jinapor disclosed that ECG is experiencing major losses in revenue. He pointed out the complication of overseeing more than 70 accounts within the organization, which complicates effective monitoring and management.
The Minister-Designate committed to pursuing extensive reforms designed to enhance ECG’s processes and boost its efficiency, thus better serving the public and reinforcing the power sector.
“The financial issue arises from inefficiencies. If ECG struggles with over 40% loss in generated power, no amount of effort will rectify that. In other nations, losses are only around 2-4%. Therefore, if you invest in $100 worth of electricity, ultimately you receive only 60%, and even then, various contracts, quality assurance, IT obligations, and more take away funds directly.
“They are all taking money from the original amount. Thus, I’ve instructed ECG, following the directive from the Chief of Staff, to stop all payments for supplies, and I mean it. I have communicated this, and if anyone from ECG, particularly from finance, is listening, this was the order given to them yesterday.
“Please, do not disregard this, as ignoring it will lead to serious consequences. We require strong measures to stabilize the system. All those numerous accounts will be closed. With over 70 accounts, monitoring has become impossible, so it is essential to reform this area, and we will execute these reforms,” he asserted.
