The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has refuted claims made by former Volta River Authority (VRA) CEO Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey regarding his leadership at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
In a detailed statement posted on his official Facebook page on Sunday, July 6, 2025, Afenyo-Markin described the comments as misleading and factually inaccurate.
Dr. Wereko-Brobbey, during an interview on the TV3 network, linked Afenyo-Markin to ECG’s financial difficulties in 2023 and 2024, suggesting that he must account for the company’s “huge losses.” However, Afenyo-Markin clarified that he was only appointed as ECG Board Chairman on July 16, 2024, and sworn in the following day. His tenure lasted until January 2025.
“Any attempt to link my leadership to events or decisions prior to that time or to attribute ECG’s financial challenges in 2023 or early 2024 to my leadership is misleading, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey’s claim is respectfully, unsupported and factually inaccurate,” he stated.
During his short stint as Board Chair, Afenyo-Markin said he led major reforms aimed at curbing inefficiencies within ECG. He highlighted a critical policy shift in procurement and contract management, replacing what he described as an outdated and risky practice with a transparent system that ensured payments were made only after verified deliveries to ECG facilities.
He also prioritised the Loss Reduction Programme initiated under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, addressing challenges such as expired meters and inadequate prepaid metering coverage. These interventions, he said, were designed to improve revenue collection and operational efficiency without resorting to tariff hikes.
“In my tenure, I opposed tariff increases and instead advocated for responsible cost-saving reforms. Tariffs must be justified by efficiency, not imposed to cover mismanagement,” Afenyo-Markin emphasized.
The Minority Leader criticized the current NDC administration’s recent electricity tariff increases 14.75% in May and an additional 2.45% in July arguing that such measures overlook the core inefficiencies plaguing the sector.
He noted that during his time at ECG, reports showed that fewer than 30% of consumers paid for electricity consumed, with the rest lost through illegal connections, obsolete systems, and poor billing.
Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors in initiating reforms, particularly in digitising ECG’s revenue systems and introducing the Loss Reduction Programme. He reiterated his commitment to building on those foundations and continuing to push for non-partisan national dialogue on sustainable energy sector reforms.
To Dr. Wereko-Brobbey, he issued a challenge: “If you possess evidence to substantiate your claims, I urge you to present it publicly. Until then, I remain focused on reforms that deliver value to the Ghanaian people.”
He emphasized the need for constructive, fact-based national discourse over politically charged commentary.
