
The Ministry of Energy has requested Parliament to suspend the contentious Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill, which proposes a merger between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The proposed merger aims to establish an independent Thermal Power Authority by consolidating the thermal plants of the Volta River Authority (VRA).
This request was outlined in a press statement released by the Minister of State at the Energy Ministry, Herbert Krapah.
The statement urged Parliament to pause further discussions on the bill, saying; “The Ministry respectfully requests Parliament to suspend consideration of the aforementioned Bill to enable us to hold further consultative.”
Staff groups within the VRA have already voiced their opposition to a draft provision in the bill that suggests merging the VRA with the Bui Power Authority.
Additionally, the bill aims to consolidate ECG with NEDCo while establishing an independent Thermal Power Authority from the thermal assets of the VRA.
The other bills advocated 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.
Workers at the VRA contend that these changes do not serve the best interests of Ghanaians and could adversely impact both the VRA and the country’s energy sector.
In the meantime, employees of NEDCo have organized another protest against the bill in Parliament, opposing the proposed merger of VRA, NEDCo, and ECG.
This is the second protest by NEDCo employees within a month.
Speaking to the media in Tamale following a protest march, Emanuel Asare, Chairman of the Northern Area Senior Staff Association, stated that the demonstrations will persist until the government addresses their concerns.