The Ministry of Energy has requested Parliament to suspend the controversial Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill, which seeks to merge the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).

The proposed merger aims to create an independent Thermal Power Authority by consolidating the thermal plants of the Volta River Authority (VRA).

This request was detailed in a press statement issued by the Minister of State at the Energy Ministry Herbert Krapah.

• Read also: VRA workers reject move to merge NEDCo, Bui Power, ECG under one entity

The statement urged Parliament to pause further discussions on the bill, saying; “The Ministry respectfully requests Parliament to suspend consideration of the aforementioned Bill to enable us to hold further consultative."

Already, staff groups within the VRA have expressed opposition to a draft provision of the bill that proposes merging the VRA with the Bui Power Authority.

The bill also seeks to consolidate ECG with NEDCo, while creating an independent Thermal Power Authority from VRA’s thermal assets.

• Read also: Staff of VRA, NEDCo protest again over planned merger with ECG

The rest of the bills being pushed by the Energy Ministry include the Ghana Thermal Authority Bill, Ghana Hydro Authority Bill, Ghana Power Distribution Authority Bill, Ghana Nuclear Power Corporation Bill, and Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill.

VRA workers argued that these changes are not in the best interest of Ghanaians and could negatively affect both the VRA and the country’s energy sector.

Meanwhile, NEDCo workers have staged another protest against the bill in Parliament, opposing the planned merger of VRA, NEDCo, and ECG.

• Read also: Gov’t plans to merge hydro dams into one entity called Ghana Hydro Authority

This marks the second protest by NEDCo employees within a month.

Speaking to the media in Tamale after a protest march, the Northern Area Senior Staff Association Chairman, Emanuel Asare, stated that the protests will continue until the government addresses their concerns.