Workers
of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are expected to embark on a
sit-down strike in their offices across the country today [Tuesday].
They
are dissatisfied with what they say is government’s plan to outsource
some services of the company. According to them, the move could lead to
worker retrenchment and other unforeseen consequences. Citi News’ Sixtus
Dong Ullo who visited some ECG offices in Accra reported that “some big
banners with the inscription ‘MIDA stop ECG privatization now.
Leave
ECG alone’ were seen at the main entrance of some ECG offices in
protest against government’s intended move. The National Divisional
Chairman of the Junior Staf Union of ECG, Benedict Kanose told Citi
News, ECG workers are unhappy about government dealings with Millenium
Development Authority (MIDA), leading the public private partnership.
“We are showing our displeasure, the way MIDA is handling things, we
think it is not right. They have to sit down with our leadership to
really iron issues out .
We are not happy about how things are
going. We will wear our red bands, wear our red T-shirts… because we
are showing our displeasure.” When Ghana qualified under compact 2 of
the Millenuim Develepoment Challenge Account to outsource client
services to private sector investors, assertions of the sale of the
power distributor became rife. Workers within the electricity company
joined forces to oppose the fruition of any such plans. President John
Dramani Mahama was again forced to clarify Ghana’s position on the deal
at the gathering of workers during this year’s May day’s commemoration
in Wa in the Upper West Region and allayed the fears of the workers.
“ECG is and will remain a wholly owned state owned enterprise.
Government
has no intentions of privatizing ECG. Government’s agreement under the
Milleniuum Challenge Compact is to leverage private sector participation
at the client level to assit in resolving client complaints and revenue
collection. There will be no worker retrenchment occurring as a result
of this reform. “ Despite this clarification, workers are still
skeptical of government’s true intentions for the company. From outright
blames on government for contributing largely to ECG’s woes to
suspicions of subtle anti worker dealings.
Some workers within the power sector who spoke to Citi News remained doubtful of this public private partnership under ECG. |
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