Erratic power is a national shame – TUC

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed disappointment at the erratic power supply situation, labeling it as a national shame that should be hurriedly resolved.

Mr. Kofi Asamoah, the Secretary General, said the solution, however, did not lie with the intended privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), warning the consequences could be catastrophic.

He was addressing the 11th quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) in Kumasi.

He said although the private sector could help, leaving the sector entirely to private sector operators would not be helpful given “our level of development”.

“The rising cost of electricity is one of the causes of the rising cost of living in Ghana today. One can imagine what the situation will be when the ECG is handed to the profit motivated private sector.”

Mr. Asamoah insisted that the sector required bold and home grown solutions.

He complained about what he said was the persistent government’s under-investment in the energy and water sector.

That he indicated must change to bring efficiency and raise the quality of service delivery.

Mr. Asamoah pointed out that “Government has a primary responsibility finance the investments critically needed to fix the problems of the sector”.
.
He said labour’s position was that the utilities must continue to remain public assets.

The three-day conference was held under the theme, “Efficient and reliable service delivery in the utility sector: the role of Stakeholders”.

Source: GNA