By Alex Ababio
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is under fire from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for breaching budgetary limits and spending far beyond its approved allocation.
According to findings from the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, the state-owned utility exceeded its approved budget by a staggering GH¢189.2 million, triggering outrage among committee members who described the move as gross financial indiscipline.
During a heated PAC session, ECG’s Chief Executive Officer and management team were subjected to intense questioning over what lawmakers termed as unapproved and reckless expenditures.
Ranking Member Samuel Atta Mills, who represents Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), minced no words in his criticism. He accused ECG of blatant disregard for financial regulations and due process.
“On staff fuel alone, ECG budgeted GH¢2.8 million but ended up spending GH¢3.6 million,” Atta Mills said sharply. “Did they drive around the world?” he quipped, drawing murmurs from the committee room.
The over-expenditure pattern, according to the report, cuts across multiple spending categories:
Communication expenses: Budgeted GH¢4.2 million, spent GH¢7.9 million
Consultancy: Budgeted GH¢40 million, spent GH¢58.6 million
Industrial relations: Budgeted GH¢2 million, spent GH¢13 million
Stakeholder engagements: Budgeted GH¢3.1 million, spent GH¢49 million
Publicity: Budgeted GH¢5.7 million, spent GH¢21.8 million
Professional fees and subscriptions: Budgeted GH¢731,000, spent GH¢1.5 million
Overseas travel: Budgeted GH¢14 million, spent GH¢29.8 million
Call centre operations: Budgeted GH¢23.5 million, spent GH¢29.3 million
In all, the company’s approved budget stood at GH¢144 million, yet its actual expenditure shot up to GH¢333 million, almost double the approved figure.
Mr. Atta Mills blasted the overspending as a clear case of financial recklessness, demanding the application of sanctions under Section 96 of the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921).
“This level of carelessness must not go unpunished,” he declared. “Those managers responsible must be referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution. It’s that simple.”
His comments echoed growing public frustration with ECG, which has recently been advocating for tariff hikes despite persistent complaints about frequent power outages, inefficiency, and inflated bills.
The PAC hearing has reignited debates over accountability and transparency in the management of state-owned enterprises. Lawmakers insist that without strict enforcement of financial laws, such incidents of unauthorized spending will continue to drain public resources.
As the committee prepares its recommendations, pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Energy and the Finance Ministry to tighten oversight mechanisms to prevent future violations.
For many Ghanaians grappling with high electricity costs, the revelations from the Auditor-General’s Report have deepened concerns about ECG’s financial discipline and management priorities.
The PAC’s inquiry signals a renewed push in Parliament to ensure that public institutions adhere strictly to budgetary controls — and that those who flout the law face real consequences.