VRA staff protest merger plans

Staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) have staged a protest against the government’s plan to merge the VRA with the Bui Power Authority, the Electricity Company of Ghana and NEDCo.

This follows an earlier rejection by some of the company staff groups, who said, “ The weeererewas built for the people and not the highest bidder”.

If implemented, the proposal will consolidate the ECG with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and create an independent Thermal Power Authority from VRA’s thermal plants.

However, the groups who oppose the merger, argue that the proposed changes are merely an attempt to lease the authority to cronies.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 statement said, “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 Ministry of Energy is also pushing for a 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 say the merger of the two authorities and the other changes the government seeks to make will be to the detriment of the VRA and the nation as a whole.

The VRA staff groups also indicated in the statement that the reforms will affect the VRA’s contributions to the national grid and affect the State’s 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,” the statement contained in some parts.

Meanwhile, the statement added that although the Board Chair of the VRA had given an assurance in May 2024 that the Authority’s thermal assets would not be privatised, recent developments appear otherwise.

The group expressed its resoluteness in fighting to resist the proposed changes which it says is inimical to the State’s power security.

“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,” the statement added.

The workers have backed their action with a demonstration today, Thursday, September 19, 2024, to register their displeasure with the decision.