The Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has requested an urgent engagement with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition over the government’s proposed merger of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Energy Commission.
It said the request was prompted by growing concerns from staff of the two commissions—who were members of the union—about the potential impact of the merger on their employment and working conditions.
In a letter dated October 22, 2025, and signed by the Union’s General Secretary, Bernard Adjei, the PSWU noted that workers feared the process might be finalised without adequate consultation or consideration of their inputs.
“There are further concerns that the process may be concluded without critical concerns from the Union being factored in,” the letter stated.
The letter, copied to the Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House, the Secretary-General of the TUC (Ghana), and executives of both commissions, expressed confidence that the ministry would grant the Union an early engagement to address these concerns.
Planned merger
There have been plans since last year to finalise the proposed merger between the PURC and the Energy Commission of Ghana.
This proposal, which has gained traction among industry experts and policymakers, aims to streamline regulatory functions, reduce operational costs, and eliminate potential overlaps in the oversight of Ghana’s energy sector.
The Institute of Energy Security is one of the leading voices that has expressed support for the merger, arguing that combining the two regulatory bodies into a single entity would not only result in cost savings but also enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of energy regulation in Ghana.
Thorough dialogue
However, the PSWU has opposed the merger, stressing that the proposed merger would have major implications for staff and, therefore, requires thorough dialogue between the ministry and relevant stakeholders.
“Engagement on the matter will enable us to better appreciate the proposal, make possible inputs into it, with a view to arriving at more workable options,” the letter added.
Mr Adjei underscored that the PSWU represents workers across more than 75 public sector organisations, including PURC, the Energy Commission, VRA, GRIDCo, NEDCo, and the Bui Power Authority, making it a key stakeholder in the proposed restructuring.
