Proposed merger of VRA, BPA is to delink VRA’s thermal assets – Egyapa Mercer

The Member of Parliament for Sekondi Constituency, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has justified the government’s proposed bill to merge the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Bui Power Authority (BPA).

According to him, the merger of the two authorities is an absolute necessity.

In an interview, Mr Mercer explained that the merger under a sole ‘Ghana Hydrological Authority’ entity is intended to streamline the operations of the two authorities.

“At this point, the policy is to delink the thermal assets of VRA and let them focus on hydro, which was the objective of setting it up in the first place—to manage all the assets in the Volta River. That is why they have custody of Kpong because Kpong was done subsequent to Akosombo,” he stated.

His comments come in response to strong opposition from the First Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, Ibrahim Ahmed, who labeled the proposed merger as “state capture.”

Mr Ahmed argued that the government’s plan to consolidate thermal plants under a Ghana Thermal Authority and hydro plants under a Ghana Hydro Authority would not benefit the Bui Power Authority.

He also expressed concerns that listing these entities on the Ghana Stock Exchange could be a ploy to allow politically exposed individuals to acquire state assets.

However, Mr Egyapa Mercer refuted these claims, questioning the logic behind Ahmed’s concerns.

“Does it require splitting the assets into two before? It is a complete ruse, a red herring with no basis whatsoever for that assertion,” he stated.