Ghana government asked to modify Millennium Compact II agreement
The Public Utility Workers’ Union of Ghana (PUWU) has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government to vigorously pursue the modification of the Millennium Challenge Second Compact.
The PUWU in a press statement issued in Tema on Wednesday, and signed by Mr Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, General Secretary, indicated that the Compact must be modified and a better alternative adopted for the transformation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
“PUWU has consistently opposed the concession of ECG for 25 years. The Union considers the Compact II, with its condition precedent of privatization of ECG as a ‘Trojan Horse’ that the new government should be wary about”, it stated.
They questioned why the country must allow a compact of five-year duration to compel Ghana to go into a concession of 25 years.
It further stated that Ghana would be shortchanged should the programme under the Compact II be allowed to materialize as according to the Union, the country would receive only $498.2 million grant out of which $340 million would go to the ECG.
The Union challenged the new government to address ECG’s major obstacles; lack of efficient management and political interference.
The statement described as misleading a comment attributed to Mr Robert Jackson, United States Ambassador to Ghana, indicating that it was too late for Ghana to renegotiate some aspects of the Compact II.
According to them, Mr Jackson’s statement was “misleading and a calculated attempt to tacitly blackmail the new government and throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians”.
PUWU noted that the Compact II had provisions in the Preamble and Article six for suspension, termination or modification of any project or activity under the programme.
They therefore urged government to call for a renegotiation especially on the aspect of the proposed ECG concession.
The statement reminded government that the Compact II which sought to revamp Ghana’s energy has a condition that compelled the Ghana Government to introduce private sector participation in the ECG.
This, they indicated, had resulted in the decision by the previous government to give ECG out on concession for 25 years.
Source: GNA