Accra, Ghana – Private companies will soon be allowed to participate in electricity metering and billing operations under the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The move marks a significant policy shift aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery in the power sector.

President Dramani Mahama disclosed this during a Q&A session at a dialogue with the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

He stated that the decision is part of broader reforms to address long-standing challenges in the electricity distribution sub-sector, including high commercial losses, inaccurate billing, and slow revenue collection.

 President Mahama said ECG would remain state-owned and no workers would lose their jobs, but that private concessionaires would be brought in to handle metering and billing across defined geographic zones in a model he described as bulk metering.

According to President Mahama, permitting private sector involvement in metering and billing will introduce greater professionalism, innovation, and accountability into the system.

The initiative is expected to reduce non-technical losses, enhance revenue recovery, and ultimately improve the reliability of electricity supply to consumers.

The decision to involve private companies in electricity metering and billing also aligns with the government’s Resetting Ghana agenda, which prioritises structural reforms in state-owned enterprises to make them more efficient and financially sustainable.

By opening metering and billing to private operators, the administration hopes to leverage technology and best practices from the private sector while maintaining ECG’s overall responsibility for power distribution.

President Mahama emphasised that the private sector participation will be implemented under a clear regulatory framework to protect consumer interests and ensure transparency. Details regarding the specific model — whether through concessions, public-private partnerships, or competitive bidding — are expected to be outlined in the coming weeks.

The announcement has been welcomed by energy sector stakeholders who have long advocated for modernisation of ECG’s operations. Industry observers note that effective metering and billing are critical to reducing the utility’s commercial losses, which have historically strained the sector’s finances and contributed to the need for government subsidies.

This reform follows other ongoing efforts to restructure the power sector, including improvements in generation capacity, transmission infrastructure, and the promotion of renewable energy sources.

Accra, Ghana – President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that Ghana currently holds approximately six weeks of petroleum reserves as escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to drive volatility in global oil prices.

The President made the revelation during a high-level engagement, highlighting the vulnerability of Ghana’s energy security amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional instability.

“Our current petroleum reserves stand at about six weeks,” President Mahama stated, underscoring the need for strategic planning and diversification to cushion the country against external shocks.

The disclosure comes as oil prices have surged due to fears of supply disruptions caused by the intensifying conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Ghana, as a net importer of petroleum products, remains highly exposed to global price fluctuations, which directly affect the pump prices of petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The government has been working to strengthen energy security through various measures, including expanding domestic gas utilisation, accelerating renewable energy projects, and building strategic petroleum reserves. However, the current six-week buffer highlights the urgency of long-term solutions to reduce dependence on imported fuels.

President Mahama used the occasion to reiterate his administration’s commitment to energy sector reforms aimed at ensuring reliable and affordable power and fuel supply for Ghanaians, even as external geopolitical tensions continue to impact commodity markets worldwide.

Energy analysts have warned that prolonged instability in the Middle East could exert further upward pressure on global crude prices, potentially leading to higher pump prices and increased cost of living in import-dependent economies like Ghana.

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