The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is facing significant scrutiny following revelations of substantial budget overruns presented at Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The utility company’s Chief Executive, along with his team, was questioned about unauthorized spending totaling GH¢189.2 million.
Referencing details from the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, Ranking Member Samuel Atta Mills delivered a strong critique of the company’s financial practices, accusing ECG management of blatant fiscal indiscipline and a disregard for proper procedures. He pointed out, “On staff fuel, ECG budgeted GH¢2.8 million but spent GH¢3.6 million,” and sarcastically asked, “Did they drive around the world?”
The trend continued across multiple expenditure lines:
- Communication expenses: budgeted at GH¢4.2 million, spent GH¢7.9 million.
- Consultancy: budgeted at GH¢40 million, spent ₵58.6 million.
- Industrial relations: budgeted at ₵2 million, spent ₵13 million.
- Stakeholder expenses: budgeted at ₵3.1 million, spent ₵49 million.
- Publicity: budgeted at ₵5.7 million, spent ₵21.8 million.
- Professional fees and subscriptions: budgeted at ₵731,000, spent ₵1.5 million.
- Overseas travel: budgeted at ₵14 million, spent ₵29.8 million.
- Call centre operations: budgeted at ₵23.5 million, spent ₵29.3 million.
In total, ECG’s approved budget was GH¢144 million, but its actual expenditure ballooned to GH¢333 million, nearly double the allocation. Mr Atta Mills condemned the spending spree as “financial indiscipline”, urging that sanctions under Section 96 of the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921) be applied against the officers responsible.
“This level of recklessness cannot go unpunished,” he declared. “Those managers who were involved should face the Attorney-General for prosecution — it’s that simple.” The PAC session has intensified calls for accountability within ECG, especially as the utility company continues to push for tariff increases amid public frustration over high electricity bills and operational inefficiencies.
Source: Abubakar Ibrahim
