PUWU rejects IMF's approach to energy sector problems

The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) has warned the government against relying heavily on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to solve Ghana’s economic and energy problems.

Deputy General Secretary of PUWU, Enoch Paul Hayes, said the government must carefully assess the IMF’s recommendations while also considering ideas from individuals and groups in Ghana.

Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, he said Ghanaians should not expect the IMF to provide support without expecting something in return.

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“I want to state it clearly. We have evidence. The IMF is not Father Christmas. They are not coming to say that they are giving us something for free. Whatever they put in, they know what they want to get from it,” he said.

His comments come as the government works to address challenges in the energy sector, including the high cost of electricity generation, financial difficulties and the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

He also questioned why the cost of electricity supplied by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) was not receiving enough attention.

“They are saying that there are issues, and the issues are not where you are trying to tackle, but the issues are really in places where it’s a matter of concern. For example, the generation: we have IPPs and their pricing. Why is that not a concern?” he asked.

Hayes said the government should also examine the experiences of other African countries before adopting recommendations from international institutions.

“What is happening to Nigeria? Whatever they said they were trying to do there has worsened the whole situation. What happened to Uganda? The examples are there,” he cautioned.

He said Ghana had demonstrated that it could solve its own problems when it took responsibility for them, citing progress at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as an example.

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“And as a country, we have also seen what we are able to do ourselves. So, just like Kwame Nkrumah said, the black man is equally capable of managing his own affairs. We can do something. We don’t always need to rely on the IMF,” he stated.

Hayes therefore called on the government to pay greater attention to proposals from organised labour and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), saying workers had already submitted recommendations on how to address challenges in the energy sector.

DR/MA

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