Don't auction off our assets - VRA Staff protest proposed merger

Accra, Ghana - Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Theophilus Tetteh Ahia has expressed strong reservations about the proposed merger between the VRA and the Bui Power Authority.

He questioned the effectiveness of this merger in reducing energy costs for consumers, especially since the VRA already offers the lowest cost per kilowatt hour in Ghana's market.

The government's proposal involves merging the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG), Bui Power Authority, Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO), and the VRA into two separate entities.

However, Ahia pointed out on Citi Eyewitness news that out that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) contribute about 50% of the country's energy demand, making the merger proposal questionable.

“There is a big problem in the sector. The VRA today is the cheapest in terms of cost per kilowatt hour in the market space in Ghana. The IPPs are there and contribute about 50% of the energy demand of this country.

“So when we say we are merging Bui and VRA, that notwithstanding again, the cost per kilowatt hour at Bui is far higher than VRA.”

“So the agenda to say when I put Bui and VRA together it is going to bring the cost down to the consumer is neither here nor there. How will that happen?” Ahia stated.

Ahia's concerns are echoed by other stakeholders, including the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), who have also raised objections to the proposed merger.

They argue that the merger would adversely affect VRA's operations and potentially lead to privatization of vital national assets.

The Senior Staff Association of the VRA has even staged a protest at the VRA headquarters in Accra, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the merger bill.

Ahia emphasizes that the VRA was established for the benefit of Ghanaians, not to be "auctioned off to the highest bidder".

Source : Lead News Online