TUC Rejects ECG Privatisation

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has indicated that it will resist the privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). In strongly-worded letter to the Flagstaff House, the TUC accused

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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has indicated that it will resist the privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

In strongly-worded letter to the Flagstaff House, the TUC accused the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) of betraying the Union by going ahead to announce a planned Bidders’ Conference scheduled for today, Monday, October 31, 2016.

“We would like to state that in line with the resolution passed at TUC 10th Quadrennial Delegates Congress held in August 2016 at KNUST, we will resist any attempt to privatize ECG,” the letter said

It further called on government to stop MiDA from going ahead with the Bidders’ Conference and to ensure that prompt measures are taken to consider the options proposed by the Union.

According to the TUC, MiDA’s action is a demonstration of bad faith since deliberations with the Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) of TUC, which is opposed to the privatization, have not been concluded.

“You may recall that at the meeting of the Technical Committee held at the Flagstaff House on 20th September, 2016, it was agreed that the Bidders Conference would be postponed until there was a response from your office on the policy issues raised at the meeting. It was further agreed that this would be done within a timeframe of three weeks,” it said.

“Regrettably, the three weeks have elapsed and there has not been any response from your office yet MiDA, whose key officials were present at the said meeting, is going ahead to hold the Bidders’ Conference on Monday, 31st October, 2016.

This action by MiDA undermines the process and the spirit of consultation,” the letter said.

Contempt

Meanwhile, the man challenging ECG’s privatization in court Saaka Salia has threatened to cite MiDA for contempt if it goes ahead with the conference.

In a statement issued on Friday, Saaka Salia stated: “It has come to my notice rather shockingly that you a defendant in the case I filed impugning the ECG PSP have slated a Bidders’ Conference for Monday, 31^st October here in Accra.

“This is in blatant contempt of court, as an injunction is pending in court against defendants from proceeding with or in any way whatsoever dealing with or participating in any processes touching and concerning further activities or dealings with the ongoing PSP in ECG processes in proposed concession for the Management of, operation of, and Investments in the Electricity Distribution Business of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited, until the case has been determined.”

According to the plaintiff to the ECG suit, “the four defendants have been served with the injunction application filed earlier this month and a first court attendance to argue matters slated for Wednesday, 2^nd November 2016.”

“Please be guided that recently the Electoral Commission (EC) suspended receiving nomination fees for the 2016 elections when it was served with similar processes.

“It only called for those fees after the court had heard the application and dismissed it.

“You are cautioned against this act in trying to overreach the courts of Ghana and treat them with disregard as you did and the Energy Commission accused you of forging its logo, and the PURC also accused you of usurping its mandate in the PSP process,” Salia indicated.

 

 

 

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