Volta River Authority (VRA) employees are staging a demonstration against the government’s plan to merge the VRA with the Bui Power Authority, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The proposal also includes consolidating ECG with NEDCo and establishing an independent Thermal Power Authority derived from VRA’s thermal assets.
This protest follows a rejection from various staff groups within the VRA, who assert that the authority was established for the benefit of the public, not for private interests.
In a statement released on September 4, 2024, the workers highlighted that an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VRA and NEDCo, which ensures continuous power supply and infrastructure expansion, has expired.
They criticized the management for failing to renew the MoU, leaving them without essential support and feeling frustrated.
The Ministry of Energy also advocates for multiple bills, including those establishing a Thermal Authority and a Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority, further complicating the energy landscape.
VRA employees argue that the proposed mergers would jeopardize the authority’s contributions to the national power grid, lead to potential power outages, and threaten the nation’s energy security.
“The support VRA provides to NEDCo is crucial for ensuring that communities in NEDCo’s coverage enjoy reliable electricity.
Separating NEDCo from VRA could disrupt power supply and adversely impact VRA’s revenue, especially given ECG’s inconsistent payment history,” the statement read.
The workers denounced the proposed changes as a “grand scheme to sell VRA assets to cronies.”
Despite assurances from the VRA Board Chair in May 2024 that the authority’s thermal assets would not be privatized, recent developments have raised concerns among the staff. They have made a resolute pledge to resist these reforms, which they view as detrimental to the country’s energy security.
The staff of VRA, with the backing of the Ghanaian people, will resolutely resist these changes and utilize all legitimate means to ensure that Ghanaians are not deprived of affordable electricity and energy security under the guise of mergers and privatization. They are counting on the public’s support in this crucial fight.
To express their discontent, the VRA workers organized a large-scale demonstration on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
The protest, which saw a significant turnout of VRA employees and supporters from various sectors, was a powerful display of opposition to the government’s plans.
Below are some scenes from the grounds.
