Former President John Dramani Mahama expressed his dismay over the loss of $190 million intended for private sector involvement in electricity distribution under the US Millennium Compact.
Taking to Facebook, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lamented the impact of what he described as “corrupt, ‘yenkyendi’, and cronyistic governance practices” spearheaded by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, which resulted in the forfeiture of the $190 million US Millennium Compact.
Mahama vowed to prioritize the enhancement of private sector efficiency within the electricity distribution system, focusing on areas such as metering, revenue management, and fault response, should he be reelected as president in the upcoming December 7 general elections. Additionally, he pledged to ensure a thorough investigation into the PDS scandal to hold those responsible accountable.
The controversy surrounding the Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Limited takeover stemmed from a 25-year concession awarded by the Ghanaian government to PDS to oversee the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Signed in March 2019, the deal was suspended in July 2019 following allegations of fraud.
The loss of the $190 million funding, crucial for the long-term sustainability of related infrastructure investments and financial recovery of the energy sector, was a consequence of the cancelled concession agreement with PDS. The US government, citing private sector participation as a fundamental reform under MCC’s Ghana Power Compact, halted the transfer of funds intended for Ghana, underscoring the importance of transparent and accountable governance practices in such partnerships.
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