The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has inaugurated a seven-member technical committee charged with developing a comprehensive report on a model and pathway for private sector involvement.
The move aligns with promises made during the 2024 political campaign by the National Democratic Congress and President John Dramani Mahama, aiming to improve the country’s power distribution systems. At the inauguration ceremony on Friday, January 24, 2025, Minister Jinapor expressed his confidence in the competence, integrity, and commitment of the committee, led by Chairman Jabesh Amissah-Arthur.
The committee is tasked with conducting extensive consultations with consumers, industry professionals, unions, and other key stakeholders. Based on these consultations, the committee will advise the Ministry of Energy on the most effective way to encourage private sector participation while ensuring that the public’s interests are at the forefront of any reforms.
The Minister stressed that the initiative would focus on improving the overall order and efficiency within Ghana’s power distribution chain, reiterating his commitment to seeing this vision come to fruition throughout his tenure.
A core priority for the committee will be to ensure local content participation in any proposed models, reflecting the government’s push for greater local ownership and involvement in the energy sector.
The seven-member technical committee consists of:
- Mr. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur (Chairman)
- Mr. Benjamin Boakye
- Dr. Shafic Sulemana
- Dr. Simon Akorli
- Mr. Ebenezer Baiden
- Lawyer Emmah Aku Bulley
- Mr. Edward Abrokwah
Additionally, representatives from key stakeholders in the energy sector, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO), were present to support the committee’s efforts.
In his remarks, the committee chairman, Mr. Amissah-Arthur, expressed the group’s dedication to fulfilling the mandate through in-depth engagement with all stakeholders, including consumers. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but assured the Minister and the public that the committee would carefully consider lessons from past initiatives, ensuring the recommendations prioritize financial sustainability while addressing the needs of all parties involved.
Amissah-Arthur further emphasized the importance of focusing on homegrown solutions and ensuring that the local private sector has the first opportunity to contribute to reforms in the energy distribution system.
Minister Jinapor, during his vetting process, had underscored the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement in the process of introducing private sector involvement. He also highlighted existing challenges, such as procurement issues and revenue losses faced by state-owned entities like ECG, which the committee will be expected to address in their final report.
With the appointment of this technical committee, the government aims to bring about positive and sustainable change to Ghana’s energy distribution landscape, fostering both public and private sector collaboration.
