14 CSOs take legal action against ECG, Fidelity Bank over alleged procurement violations

A coalition of 14 prominent Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has initiated legal action against the state-owned Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Fidelity Bank Ghana, alleging procurement breaches.

According to a statement issued on October 24, 2024, the civil lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court, seeks declarations regarding what it describes as opaque financial arrangements involving millions of dollars between the power distributor and one of Ghana's leading private banks.

The 14 CSOs argue that ECG’s arrangement with Fidelity Bank as its “single account” custodian and the associated multi-million dollar forex transactions should have adhered to regulations under the Public Procurement Act.

This legal challenge comes at a critical time when Ghana’s energy sector is facing intense scrutiny. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted the need for reforms as part of Ghana’s ongoing bailout program, emphasising the importance of transparency and accountability in the sector.

Some members of the coalition include; Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and among others.

See the list of CSOs below:

Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP)

Democratic Credentials Network (DCN)

Institute for Liberty And Policy Innovation (ILAPI)

Africa Centre for Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment (ACEYE)

Renel Ghana Foundation (RENEL)

Grassroot Mobilizers Foundation (GMF)

Centre for Democratic Development (CDD)

IMANI Centre for Policy and Education (IMANI)

Institute of Energy Studies (IES)

Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana)

ODEKRO PMO Foundation (ODEKRO)

iWatch Africa (iWatch)

Centre for Extractives & Development (CEDA)

MA

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