The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has assured that staff of Electricity  Company of Ghana, ECG, will not be laid-off under the Power Compact government intends signing with a private partner in transforming the power management company.

Government, through the Ministry of Power, ECG and MiDA has issued a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) from local and international companies to identify a qualified private partner to invest in the company, and as well operate the distribution business of ECG through a Public-Private Partnership.

The partnership which forms part of the Ghana Power Compact between the Government of Ghana and the Millennium Challenge Corporation will help transform ECG in terms of technology and efficiency in power distribution to become a stronger company able to meet the current and future needs of Ghanaian families and businesses.

Speaking at a stakeholder’s forum, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Ing. Owura Sarfo said the partnership will totally overhaul the ECG. He indicated that the REOI which has been publicized in the local and international media is a demonstration of government’s commitment to engaging in a transparent and competitive process to attract and select a proven private partner to operate ECG through a concession agreement.

Ing. Sarfo, dispelled fears a greater number of ECG workers would be retrenched under the partnership arrangement. “We are fortunate to have a situation where ECG is not overstaffed unlike other organisations where, if a general reform is being done you find out that they are overstaffed right from the beginning and you have to lay off staff. In the case of ECG it is not the case, therefore, we do not see any retrenchment.”

He added that there may be people in the company who on their own may take a decision not to work for the new concessionaire and emphasized that arrangements will be put in place to address that “but currently, we don’t have a retrenchment programme because ECG is not overstaffed.”

MiDA is therefore urging local companies especially to take up the challenge by quickly submitting their letters of interest to partner the ECG in the transformation agenda.