On Wednesday, Junior and Senior Staff Unions of the Volta River Authority (VRA) in the Aboadze enclave of the Western Region staged a peaceful demonstration against government plans to privatize the Authority’s assets. 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.
Demonstrators, dressed in red and holding placards with messages like “Energy sector merger is not necessary” and “VRA is not for sale,” marched from the main gate to their accommodations, accompanied by a brass band.
Vice Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, Ing. James Adotey, expressed concerns that the merger and separation of the thermal plant could undermine Ghana’s energy security. He warned that privatizing the thermal facility could give private investors control over about 75% of the nation’s energy supply, which he deemed a potential disaster for the country.
Adotey criticized the government’s approach, questioning why it would push for further privatization when independent power producers (IPPs) are already paid in dollars, placing a financial burden on Ghanaians. He emphasized the need for a more cautious approach to energy sector reforms.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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