Staff groups of the Volta River Authority (VRA) have voiced their opposition to a draft bill proposing the merger of VRA with the Bui Power Authority.
The proposal in question will also see the consolidation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), and the creation of an independent Thermal Power Authority from VRA’s thermal plants if passed.
But the workers say “the Volta River Authority was built for the people and not the highest bidder.”
“There is an existing Memorandum of Understanding between VRA and NEDCo that guarantees VRA’s continuous support in terms of power supply and the expansion of other infrastructure. The MOU has expired requiring a renewal, but management has been rendered powerless and has no interest in the renewal to guarantee continuous support to NEDCo for no apparent reason.”
The Hydro dams are not the only assets considered in this amalgamation.
The rest of the bills being pushed by the Energy Ministry include the Ghana Thermal Authority Bill, Ghana Hydro Authority Bill, Ghana Power Distribution Authority Bill, Ghana Nuclear Power Corporation Bill, and Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill.
However the VRA workers contend that these changes are not in the best interest of Ghanaians and could have serious negative impacts on both the VRA and the nation as a whole.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the staff groups stressed that the proposed reforms could weaken VRA’s contributions to the national grid and compromise energy security.
“The support VRA gives to NEDCo is to ensure that our brothers and sisters in the NEDCo catchment areas of the country enjoy electricity consistently without any hindrance. The separation of NEDCo from VRA can affect the supply of power and cash inflows for VRA since ECG is not consistent with its payment obligations to VRA. We see this attempt as “A GRAND SCHEME TO SELL VRA ASSETS TO CRONIES,” he said.
The statement also recalled a meeting with the VRA Board Chairman in May 2024, during which assurances were provided that there were no plans to privatise the Authority’s thermal assets.
“The Staff of VRA with the support of Ghanaians shall fearlessly resist and use all legitimate means at our disposal to ensure that the people of Ghana are not robbed of affordable electric power and energy security under the guise of mergers and privatization,” they further stated.
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