John Abdulai Jinapor, the Energy Minister-designate, has set a six-month deadline for creating a thorough framework for the private sector to engage in the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) operations.
He stated that the goal of this project is to improve the nation’s power distribution and efficiency.
During his interview with Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 13, Mr. Jinapor emphasized the value of openness and professional advice in the process.
“We believe there should be private sector participation. What we intend to do is to form a seven-member committee, comprising technical experts, legal minds, financial analysts, industry players, and even a consumer representative,” he stated.
To decide whether a concession model or complete privatization would be more appropriate for ECG’s operations, the committee will assess international best practices.
Mr. Jinapor gave the committee his word that the administration would rely on an open and transparent procedure and refrain from political meddling.
“My target is to push for six months, but I do not want to stampede the committee. However, give or take, within this year, we should complete the framework,” he said.
The Minister-designate emphasized that a competitive tender process would be used by the government instead of sole-sourcing. He went on to say that in order to guarantee accountability, the project would incorporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and give priority to local content.
“Once we get the buy-in of Ghanaians, we can proceed with a Request for Proposal (RFP) or competitive tender process. Our approach ensures we incorporate private sector expertise while safeguarding national interests,” Mr. Jinapor explained.
In addition, he discussed the energy sector’s wider issues, pointing out that the industry’s debt has increased to $3 billion. The lessons acquired from past compromises will direct the government’s approach, he said, underscoring the importance of reform.
Source: myjoyonline.com