Stakeholders petition Energy Minister over governance concerns at GRIDCo Ghana

A coalition of civil society groups industry experts and community stakeholders has submitted a formal petition to the Energy Minister highlighting serious governance issues at Ghana’s national electricity transmission company, GRIDCo. The petition calls for urgent reforms to ensure transparency accountability and operational efficiency in the power sector.

Among their concerns are alleged lapses in contract management procurement irregularities delayed payments to independent power producers poor maintenance of infrastructure and lack of clear public disclosure of GRIDCo’s finances. They argue these issues undermine service reliability and contribute to frequent power disruptions across the country.

In their submission stakeholders demanded a comprehensive audit of GRIDCo’s activities, public release of financial statements and a review of existing contracts to ensure compliance with competitive procurement processes. They also called for measures to improve governance structure and strengthen oversight mechanisms to protect public interest.

Representatives said that electricity is vital to economic growth and everyday livelihoods and that persistent instability erodes investor confidence and undermines national development. They emphasised that transparent governance at GRIDCo is critical to achieving sustainable energy supply and restoring trust in public utilities.

The petition also underscores the social impact of poor governance. Frequent blackouts and load-shedding disproportionately affect households, small businesses and vulnerable communities. Stakeholders argue that GRIDCo must prioritise reliability, transparent financial management and stakeholder engagement to address systemic shortcomings.

Energy sector analysts welcomed the petition, noting that such civil society pressure can catalyse reforms. They said public scrutiny often leads to better accountability particularly when combined with regulatory oversight and political will. They added that improved governance could reduce wastage, prevent corruption and enhance sustainability of the power grid.

The coalition has asked the Energy Minister to respond publicly within 30 days and to commit to a reform roadmap. They also urged regular stakeholder consultations and timely disclosure of progress. For many, this petition represents a turning point toward stronger, citizen-driven oversight of Ghana’s energy infrastructure.