Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has revealed that for many years, the company’s revenue was stagnant and not part of major financial discussions.
Speaking at the JoyNews National Dialogue on Thursday, April 10, Mr. Mahama highlighted that ECG’s revenue had historically been flat-lined, ranging between GH¢450 million and GH¢500 million. He stressed that no utility company’s revenue should remain so stagnant.
“ECG was never at the table in terms of revenue. For years, ECG’s revenue was flat-lined — always between GH¢450 million to GH¢500 million. No utility company’s revenue should be that stagnant,” he said.
However, Mahama pointed to the significant progress made during his tenure, where ECG’s revenue reportedly increased to GH¢1.5 billion.
He acknowledged that ECG’s financial struggles were deep-rooted and not new to him when he took office in May 2022. But he noted that his experience as Managing Director was different from his time on the board.
“There were a lot of discrepancies in the thinking around the company called ECG. Data from the Project Management Office revealed that over 700 electrical infrastructure projects were outstanding, about 100 more in civil works, and only 12 in customer service. This showed clearly that while the infrastructure side was being addressed, the business side — the side that brings in the money — was neglected,” he explained.
Mahama highlighted the company’s fundamental flaw in customer relations, noting that no modern utility company could thrive without investing in customer interface systems.
“I had a discussion with the board and told them that no critical 21st-century utility operates without properly engaging customers. So, we embarked on an ambitious drive to change the narrative around customer relations,” he said.
Despite his prior knowledge of the company’s challenges, Mahama admitted that sitting in the Managing Director’s chair exposed him to the harsh realities of ECG’s operational difficulties.
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