The Senior Staff Association of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has expressed cautious optimism following the Ministry of Energy’s request for Parliament to suspend the contentious Ghana Hydro Authority Bill. This request by the Energy Minister comes amid significant pushback from critical stakeholders, especially senior staff members at the VRA, who have voiced strong objections to the proposed changes.
Other legislative proposals currently under review include Ghana Thermal Authority Bill, 2024, Ghana Hydro Authority Bill, 2024, Ghana Power Distribution Authority Bill, 2024, Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024. The proposed legislation seeks to restructure Ghana’s energy sector by merging the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and creating an independent thermal power authority from the thermal assets of the VRA.
While the association welcomes the temporary halt, it firmly believes that a complete withdrawal of the bill, rather than merely a suspension, is the only acceptable solution. Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the VRA, articulated these concerns during an interview. He stressed that the proposed bill would bring more harm than good to the people of Ghana, underscoring the association’s long-standing objections to the legislation.
Mr. Ahia noted that suspending the bill, while a positive step, is not enough to mitigate the risks posed by its eventual passage. The association’s chairman explained that merging the VRA’s thermal plants with those of the Bui Power Authority and other entities would severely undermine Ghana’s national security infrastructure. He cautioned that stripping the VRA of its thermal assets, which collectively produce over 1,400 megawatts of power, could create significant vulnerabilities within the energy sector
