Audio By Carbonatix
The Power Ministry is expected to engage the management and staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Thursday.
Deputy Power Minister, John Jinapor, says the meeting will afford the Ministry an opportunity to address the concerns of staff regarding the decision to cede three assets of VRA to a private company.
“We are [expected] to meet them to delve into their concerns. If they have legitimate concerns we will engage them,” he told Joy News.
Workers of VRA agitated over plans by government to give three assets belonging to the nation’s power generating company namely T3 plant at the Aboadze thermal enclave, MRP at the Tema Thermal Power station and a parcel of land at Kpone Thermal Power Station to AMERI, Sunon-Asogli and the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).
They argue government’s decision breaches section (2) of the Volta River Development ACT, 1961 (ACT 46) – the establishing document of VRA.
The ACT has given the Authority the autonomy to undertake activities and supervises its own assets, but the government, through some faceless persons is using interference and manipulations.
They threatened to demonstrate and back it with a possible strike which many have described as unprecedented in the history of the company, Joy News’ Kojo Manu reported.
An earlier meeting by acting Power Minister, Seth Terkper, and his deputy to calm the nerves of the workers failed.
But Mr Jinapor says the workers did not get the right information regarding VRA assets.
“With the T3 plant it’s been indolent for years and we believe that we can get a strategic partner to bring the plant up and eventually hand it over to VRA,” he said, adding, it is not as though the government is interested in “dissipating the assets of VRA.”
He said the rationale behind the decision will be explained to help them to come to a “common ground for the mutual benefit of both VRA and the country at large.”
Meanwhile, Parliament has approved the $647 million deal for the construction of 400 megawatts combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Tema.
Even though the minority has raised red flags regarding the cost of the plant, Mr Jinapor says the deal is the best the nation could have got in the market.
The deal is cost effective and the nation stands a chance of benefitting, he said.
Latest Stories
-
Oti region cocoa farmers besiege COCOBOD office over unpaid arrears
51 seconds -
Osman Ayariga outlines National Youth Month activities to promote leadership and volunteerism
8 minutes -
In Pictures: Gabon’s President pays tribute to Kwame Nkrumah on official visit to Ghana
9 minutes -
Court remands pastor over alleged romance fraudÂ
11 minutes -
Africa must add value to critical minerals to create jobs, strengthen peace — Goosie Tanoh
11 minutes -
Suspected romance scammer remanded over alleged fake marriage promises, intimate image blackmail
17 minutes -
Navy, NACOC renew commitment to combat illicit drug trade and substance abuse
19 minutes -
The forgotten heroes behind Ghana’s hospitality success (Part I)Â
37 minutes -
Dagbon delegation calls on Okyenhene, invites him to final funeral rites of late Yaa-Naa
45 minutes -
Ghana, Malta launch project ethics to strengthen ethics education
50 minutes -
Massive gas leakage reported at Tema Community 7 as firefighters move in
58 minutes -
Gender Ministry rallies transport workers to champion gender equality, end child marriage
1 hour -
Mahama pushes Ghana-Gabon economic alliance to unlock trade, investment and job creation
1 hour -
National Youth Month 2026 launched with call to rebuild values and inspire patriotism
1 hour -
Resources don’t build legacies; good governance does – MiDA CEO
1 hour