Rev. John Awuni speaking at the conference
The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to initiate immediate reforms at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, the Chairman of FABAG, Rev. John Awuni, said approving new utility tariff increases without comprehensive restructuring of the two agencies would amount to “a profound injustice to businesses and households.”
He argued that reforming ECG and the Ghana Water Company goes beyond utility management, describing it as “a matter of national security, economic survival, and governance legacy.”
“ECG and the Ghana Water Company reform is more than a utility issue. It is a matter of national security, economic survival, and governance legacy. If Ghana demonstrates efficiency reform, it will protect households and businesses,” Rev. Awuni stressed.
He recommended the establishment of a Presidential Compact for both institutions to enhance performance and accountability.
“Respectfully, we recommend a Presidential Compact for ECG and the Ghana Water Company. We call for a performance compact between the ECG, Ministry of Finance, PURC, and the Energy Commission, signed under His Excellency’s authority,” he said, urging the President to launch the compact within the next 30 days.
Rev. Awuni further stressed that the greatest legacy President Mahama could leave behind would be to fix ECG and the Ghana Water Company, noting that Ghanaians would experience the benefits of good governance through increased economic activity and a reduction in the cost of goods and services.
“Ghana deserves a utility sector that powers growth, not one that drains it,” he emphasised.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association, Ebbo Botwe, said electricity constitutes one of the major input costs for the plastic industry, noting that recycling alone accounts for about 20 percent of total production costs.
He observed that many manufacturers are now turning to green energy, particularly solar power, but expressed concern that the power sector’s current design is not business-friendly.
“The structure of the power sector drives away investors and investments from the country and the plastic industry,” he lamented, urging government to consider their petition and act immediately.
By Florence Asamoah Adom