The Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Abena Osei Asare, has issued a strong ultimatum to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
According to her, if revoking ECG’s licence is what it will take for the company to settle its arrears with the Energy Commission, then that action should be taken.
Hon. Abena Osei Asare, who is also the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East and a former Deputy Finance Minister, made the statement during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee where ECG appeared to respond to infractions cited in the Auditor-General’s Report.
The Committee expressed serious concern over the growing indebtedness of ECG to sector institutions, particularly the Energy Commission, which relies on licence fees and levies for its regulatory operations.
According to the PAC, ECG has consistently failed to honour its financial obligations despite collecting revenues from consumers, a situation the Committee described as unacceptable and a threat to the stability of the power sector.
“If revoking ECG’s licence is what it will take for them to pay what they owe the Energy Commission, then so be it. We cannot allow a situation where ECG continues to operate with impunity while piling up debts to regulators,” Hon. Abena Osei Asare stressed.
She noted that the Committee will not hesitate to recommend punitive measures, including licence sanctions, to ensure compliance and financial discipline in the energy sector.
The Energy Commission is mandated to regulate and licence operators in the energy sector. ECG, as a major distribution utility, is required to pay annual licence fees and other statutory obligations to the Commission.
The PAC’s ultimatum comes at a time when ECG’s operational and financial challenges have been under intense public scrutiny, with calls for reforms, private sector participation and improved efficiency.
The Committee has directed ECG to take immediate steps to settle its indebtedness to the Energy Commission and report back to the Committee.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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