By Staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) have criticized a proposed draft bill aimed at merging VRA with the Bui Power Authority, calling it a scheme to create a new entity for sale.
Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of VRA, claimed in an interview that the bill is designed to facilitate the separation of VRA’s thermal power plant, making the merger feasible. He argued that this move would be harmful to Ghana.
Ahia also told Nana Tuffour Boateng that both VRA and Bui Power Plant are currently performing well and do not require a merger to enhance their efficiency.
“We oppose this merger completely and we think it is not in the best interest of this country. VRA has been in the system for over 53 years and VRA has operated efficiently and no other entity in the sub-region has operated a hydro plant better than the Volta River Authority.
“Bui has done the same since its inception and they have been very efficient so what is the need to merge Bui to VRA?
“This is just a facade to deceive Ghanaians that we are joining Bui and VRA together and separating the VRA Thermal Power Plant from VRA into an authority and it doesn’t make sense. You are separating the Thermal Power Plant from the VRA to create an entity and sell it and why are we so much into selling state institutions?”
According to a September 4 statement from the VRA, the proposed draft bill seeks to merge VRA with the Bui Power Authority, combine the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), and establish an independent Thermal Power Authority.
