1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has noted with worry the effect of the strike by Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) workers on consumers of electricity. Since the declaration of the strike, consumers have gone through various forms of frustration to access services from ECG. We find this unacceptable considering the effects of several years of erratic power supply already suffered by industrial, commercial and residential consumers. ACEP has been following the discussions about the future of the electricity distribution company, and in particular the decision by the government to put the company under a concession for 25 years, which led to the strike by ECG workers. We are of the view that the reasons for the decision to put the company on concession are not in doubt. It is well known that ECG has not provided satisfactory services to consumers of electricity over the years. We also know that government interference in the company concerning appointments to the Board and management as well as its indebtedness to the company are partly to blame for the current state of the company.