The Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA) has formally petitioned the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to review existing policies on rechargeable jobs.

In a statement, the Association cited concerns over escalating costs and restrictive practices that hinder access to electricity and overall socioeconomic development.

GECA also highlighted Ghana’s 2019 ranking of 118 out of 190 countries on the World Bank's ease of doing business index.

The association attributes this position in part to the challenges in accessing electricity connections, which have become increasingly expensive, especially for properties requiring dedicated transformer installations.

The Association identified four key policies implemented by ECG that are contributing to the high costs:

• High cost of capital contributions required from customers.
• A mandatory, non-refundable upfront payment of GHS 10,000 from service applicants.
• Restrictions preventing customers from purchasing materials from suppliers of their choice.
• Elevated material prices that exceed market rates.

GECA pointed out that the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) offers similar services at significantly lower rates and allows customers to procure their own materials.

This comparison underscores the association’s argument that ECG’s current policies are detrimental not only to its own revenue goals but also to the government’s industrialization agenda.

The association therefore urged ECG to suspend these policies immediately and convene an emergency stakeholder engagement to develop more equitable solutions.

 GECA expressed confidence that such measures would alleviate the financial burden on potential investors, enhance ECG's profitability, and contribute to reducing unemployment in the country.