The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has warned officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) against negligence and political interference in their work.
Addressing four regional managers, 21 district managers, and engineers of ECG in the Ashanti Region, Dr Jinapor stressed that workers in the energy sector must remain professional and prioritise the national interest over political affiliations.
“Your job is that of an engineer and not a politician. You cannot be a politician. That’s why I say if you want to be a politician, you exit,” the Minister stated.
He accused some engineers of deliberate negligence that has contributed to unstable power supply and damaged public confidence in the energy sector.
According to Dr Jinapor, unreliable electricity supply not only attracts criticism against the government but also leads to financial losses for ECG due to power purchased but not fully utilised.
He therefore urged managers and technical officers to improve operational efficiency, noting that district managers remain the direct representatives of the company in the eyes of the public.
“You are the face of the ECG. If the managers don’t work well, it tarnishes the image of the company,” he said.
As part of efforts to improve performance and accountability, the Minister revealed that the Energy Ministry, in collaboration with the Energy Commission, is establishing a command and control centre to monitor faults, response times and transformer operations in real time.
The proposed system will also strengthen communication between ECG officials and the public through the use of modern digital technology.
Dr Jinapor explained that managers would receive specially configured mobile phones connected to the command centre to enable faster reporting and response to faults and customer complaints.
“The main issue is the time of response. The centre is not just for updates, it’s also to track transformers as well,” he explained.
The Minister further disclosed that the government plans to introduce a dedicated short code and contact number that would allow citizens to directly report power outages and other electricity-related problems.
To improve mobility and field operations, ECG district offices are also expected to receive electronic motorcycles and pickup vehicles to support engineers and technical teams responding to faults across the country.
According to Dr Jinapor, the government is intentionally investing in logistics and technology to strengthen ECG’s operational capacity and improve electricity supply reliability nationwide.
He warned that managers and engineers would be held accountable for persistent failures in delivering safe and stable electricity.
The Minister also announced ongoing projects aimed at increasing power generation capacity in the Ashanti Region to meet rising electricity demand.
“Very soon we’re going to have over 1000 MW situated here in Kumasi, a strategic location,” he stated.
Dr Jinapor consequently urged ECG workers to remain committed to professionalism and avoid any conduct that could undermine the country’s power sector reforms.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
