VRA workers against ceding of assets : But Jinapor says claim untrue
The Deputy Minister of Power, Mr John Jinapor, has asked the management and staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to dismiss reports that three assets of the company have been ceded to a private firm to manage.
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According to him, no decision had been made yet concerning the T3 Plant at the Aboadze thermal enclave, the MRP at the Sunon-Asogli Plant and the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPCG).
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after a closed-door meeting with the management and staff of the VRA in Accra last Thursday, Mr Jinapor said the issue would be addressed by August 15, this year.
Before the closed-door meeting, workers of the VRA, wearing red bands around their heads, necks and arms, had protested over what they said was the government’s decision to cede some operations of the authority to a third party.
The workers also hung pieces of red cloth on the VRA building in Accra and on some of their vehicles to register their displeasure at the supposed government decision.
According to them, they did not understand why the government, without any consultation, would take a decision to cede three important assets of the company to a third party to manage.
They argued that the decision breached Section (2) of the Volta River Development Act, 1961 (Act 46).
The act gives the VRA the autonomy to undertake activities and supervise its own assets.
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The workers threatened to demonstrate and possibly embark on strike if nothing was done about the issue.
VRA assets
Touching on the T3 plant, Mr Jinapor said the workers of the VRA got wrong information and explained that the move was to get a strategic partner.
“With the T3 plant, we took some decision to bring on board a strategic partner to invest, since the plant has been lying idle for some years. Ultimately, we intend to send the T3 plant back to the VRA. This has not yet been decided,” he said.
He said the issue would be properly dealt with after the Ministry of Power had held a meeting with all stakeholders, including the VRA management.
“The Power Ministry will hold a meeting with the management of the VRA, the Ministry of Finance and the Board of the VRA to properly address the concerns,” he said.
Power situation
Asked about the current power situation, Mr Jinapor said the situation was fairly stabilised, adding that currently the country had enough stock and capacity to supply constant power.