ECG privatization: No worker will be laid off – Minister

A Deputy Minister of Energy, Joseph Cudjoe, has assured members of the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) that no worker of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will be laid off during the company’s privatization.

The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) has sued three institutions that are playing key roles in the privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana.

The suit brought against Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Attorney-General and the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) is in respect of the non-payment of redundancy package to its members.

PUWU in a writ filed at the Accra High Court argued against the decision to entrust the nation’s power distributor to a concessionaire, adding that it will affect its members hence the need for a package to be given to its members.

However, speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, Joseph Cudjoe, explained that negotiations between government and the concessionaire is such that the local interest will at all times exceed that of the concessionaire.

In terms of job security, the Deputy Minister stated that re-negotiations between government and concessionaires suggested that they (concessionaires) will have no mandate to lay off any staff of ECG.