Confusion rocks GRIDCo as concerned stakeholders petition energy minister over alleged breaches

A coalition of industry players calling itself Concerned Citizens and Stakeholders in the Power Sector has petitioned the Minister of Energy John Abdulai Jinapor, raising serious red flags about what they describe as emerging governance irregularities at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo).

According to the group, the recent participation of GRIDCo’s Director of Legal, Monica Senanu, in Board meetings and high-level Board engagements despite the company already having an officially recognised Board Secretary, Ama Haywood Dadzie has sparked deep unease within the sector.

The petition, submitted this week, insists that Senanu’s sudden appearance in Board activities “was never formally announced or justified” to staff, regulators, or the public.

The stakeholders argue that this development contradicts established governance practices in state-owned enterprises, where management executives are not expected to sit on Boards mandated to exercise oversight over them.

They describe the situation as a disturbing departure from long-standing principles designed to avoid conflicts of interest, strengthen transparency, and ensure clear accountability structures within critical national institutions.

The petition warns that altering leadership and oversight roles without official communication could weaken internal controls and create blurred lines of authority at a time when GRIDCo’s credibility and operational stability are crucial to national development.

“This deviation from established norms exposes GRIDCo to vulnerabilities in decision-making and undermines public trust,” the group stated, stressing that poor governance at the country’s primary power transmission utility poses risks “that extend far beyond the company to the entire nation.”

The stakeholders are urging the Ministry of Energy to act swiftly and provide urgent clarity on the following:

1. The current governance structure at GRIDCo

2. The legal and administrative basis for the Director of Legal’s participation in Board meetings

3. Why no formal communication was issued to justify the change

4. How government intends to preserve long-standing governance safeguards within the utility

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They further emphasised the need for the Ministry to step in to restore adherence to professional standards, insisting that Ghana cannot afford “quiet structural shifts” in one of its most strategic institutions.

The petition concludes with a strong caution: “GRIDCo must remain an institution anchored in professionalism and transparency. Any erosion of established oversight mechanisms endangers public assets and national stability.”

The group is calling for an immediate review of the situation, insisting that swift action is essential to protect the integrity of the country’s power sector and to maintain public confidence.