A coalition of 14 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has initiated legal action against the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, seeking clarity on ECG’s obligations under the Public Procurement Act (2003).
This follows allegations of procurement abuses and conflicts of interest involving politically connected executives.
Facilitated by AudreyGrey law firm, the Coalition, including the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), argues that ECG’s appointment of Fidelity Bank as its sole account custodian, involving multi-million-dollar forex transactions, should have complied with procurement laws designed to ensure transparency and accountability.
The lawsuit also highlights potential conflicts of interest, as several executives from Fidelity Bank hold positions on ECG’s Board, further clouding decision-making processes.
These concerns come amid a backdrop of procurement controversies within ECG, including the Auditor General’s reports on irregularities and recent scrutiny over the purchase of smart meters.
The Coalition asserts that ECG’s procurement missteps contribute to the energy sector’s broader financial challenges, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently flagged as a key obstacle to Ghana’s economic stability.
They argue that ECG’s practices must be scrutinized to prevent a repeat of past power crises that have hampered the nation.
ACEP is also investigating ECG’s multimillion-dollar procurement of a mobile application, raising additional concerns about the company’s operational integrity.
The Coalition warns that without proper oversight and adherence to procurement regulations, ECG’s activities will continue to exacerbate fiscal challenges, including inflation and currency depreciation, driven by unproductive energy sector debt.
Meanwhile, ECG attributes its financial struggles to foreign exchange losses, which it claims amount to tens of millions of dollars.
The Coalition maintains that these transactions need greater transparency to safeguard Ghana’s economic future.
Below are the 14 CSOs
1. Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP)
2. Democratic Credentials Network (DCN)
4. Institute for Liberty And Policy Innovation (ILAPI)
5. Africa Centre for Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment (ACEYE)
6. Renel Ghana Foundation (RENEL)
7. Grassroot Mobilizers Foundation (GMF)
8. Centre for Democratic Development (CDD)
9. IMANI Centre for Policy and  Education (IMANI)
10. Institute of Energy Studies (IES)
11. Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana)
12. ODEKRO PMO Foundation (ODEKRO)
13. iWatch Africa (iWatch)
14. Center for Extractives & Development (CEDA)
Source: Adomonline
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