The Meralco Consortium emerged the highest and preferred bidder among the 11 shortlisted companies which submitted proposals for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s Private Sector Participation (PSP) bid to manage ECG.
A press release issued on Friday by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) and signed by Pamela Djamson-Tettey, Director of Communication and Outreach, said the winner was chosen on grounds of combined technical and financial score.
“The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) is pleased to announce that following an international competitive procurement process, the evaluation of the proposals received for the management of, operation of, and investment in the Electricity Distribution Business of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been completed. The Meralco Consortium is led by the Manila Electricity Company (Meralco), a 115-year-old privately owned company incorporated in the Philippines. Its electricity distribution network covers a third of the Philippines and serves a customer population (accounts) in excess of six million.”
It said negotiations would soon commence to finalise all the agreements related to the implementation of the ECG PSP Transaction.
“MiDA wishes to assure Ghanaians that it will continue to adhere to, and uphold high standards of integrity and transparency throughout the process.”
PUWU’s Reponse
Following the announcement of the winner, the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), has questioned the processes that led to the choice of Meralco Consortium as the ‘Preferred Bidder’ to manage ECG.
Speaking to Joy Fm, an Accra-based radio station, General Secretary of PUWU, Michael Nyantakyi, described the processes as flawed.
According to PUWU, Ghana could lose out as MiDA had limited options because there were just a few companies to select from.
Mr. Nyantakyi revealed that the fact that most of the 11 companies pulled out of the process, leaving just two companies to select from suggested there was a problem with the whole process.
“How competitive was the process if at the end of the day you had two out of which you had to select one…Are you getting value for money? Is it the best we can get for us as a nation?” he quizzed.
He also asked MiDA to name the local partner Meralco had chosen for the management of ECG.
It would be recalled that President Nana Akufo-Addo last year said Ghana would have 51 percent shares in the whole transaction when any new manager emerged.
Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MiDA has, however, indicated that due process was followed in the choice of Merlco.
By Samuel Boadi