The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has kicked against the government’s decision to merge the Volta River Authority (VRA), Bui Power Authority, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The energy think tank suggested that the government should revamp the institutions to improve efficiency rather than consolidating.
In a statement, the Executive Director of IES, Nana Amoasi VII, indicated that “while the proposed merger and restructuring of Ghana’s power sector may have its proponents, we [IES] believe that the risks far outweigh the benefits in its current form”.
“The focus should be on stabilizing and strengthening the existing institutions such as the VRA, Bui Power Authority, ECG, and NEDCo, rather than dismantling them”.
He continued, “We urge the government to reconsider the bill and work towards solutions that preserve Ghana’s energy security, affordability, and long-term sustainability”.
This suggestion from IES follows the draft bill proposing the merger of the power institutions to establish an independent Thermal Power Authority.
The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of VRA, Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, stressed that they would use all legal means to stop the merger.
“We are Ghanaians and we are major stakeholders in this and we are going to use all legitimate forces within our means, all the legal processes that we have to ensure that Ghanaians are not shortchanged.
“We cannot fold our hands and allow anything Ghana to be sold to the highest bidder. We are going to resist this [merger].
“We are coming out to petition TUC because the little information we have is that they have also not been consulted. We are going to petition the President to tell the President that we think that this issue is not in the best interest of Ghanaians,” he noted.