John Jinapor, the Minister-Designate for Energy, has ordered the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to immediately suspend all payments for supplies as part of efforts to tackle inefficiencies and stabilize the power sector.

Jinapor issued a stern warning to ECG staff, particularly within the finance directorate, stating that serious consequences would follow if the directive is ignored.

In an interview on Eyewitness News on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Jinapor revealed that ECG has been facing significant revenue losses. He highlighted the challenge of managing over 70 accounts within the company, which has made effective monitoring and control difficult.

The Minister-Designate pledged to implement comprehensive reforms aimed at streamlining ECG’s operations and improving its overall efficiency to better serve the public and stabilize the power sector.

“The challenge of money emanates from inefficiencies. Because if ECG loses over 40% of its power generated, no matter what you do, you cannot find a solution. Other countries are doing just about 2-4% losses. So, with this $100 worth of power, you buy and sell, you collect only 60% and even with that, there are so many contracts, quality assurance, IT, provision and others.

“They are all deducting monies at the source. So, I have told the ECG, and this is also an instruction from the Chief of Staff, to seize all payment for supplies and I mean it. I have told them and if anybody is listening and is within ECG, whether the finance directorate, this was the instruction we gave them yesterday.

“Please don’t and I mean it, because there are serious consequences if you flout this directive. We need some serious buffers to anchor the system. All those numerous accounts will be closed. They have over 70 accounts and they cannot monitor that, so we need to reform that sector and we will reform that sector,” he stated.