The National Executive Council (NEC) of the VRA Senior Staff Association has condemned a series of violent attacks on staff of the Volta River Authority's Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) in Tamale, following the recent reassignment of some directors.

In a press release dated August 1, 2025, the association revealed that several staff were physically assaulted, and their official vehicles seized and taken to the Gukpe Naa’s Palace by a group of irate youth on Wednesday, July 30.

The attacks are believed to be linked to a management reshuffle, specifically the reassignment of the Director of Human Resources to the Corporate Strategy Department.

The NEC expressed shock that no arrests had been made, despite a formal complaint being lodged with the Ghana Police Service on the day of the incident.

The association further alleged that the reassigned director had petitioned traditional authorities in the Northern Region, including the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, to intervene in reversing the decision.

Among his alleged claims were that the reassignment constituted a demotion, that he was being transferred out of Tamale, and that his efforts to hire Dagombas were being stifled by the Ag. Managing Director.

The NEC dismissed these claims as “complete lies and obvious untruths,” warning that they undermine VRA/NEDCo’s corporate ethics and code of conduct.

“We are worried that this particular reassignment is being wrongly interpreted as tribal exclusion and personal vendetta, which is harmful to the corporate image of VRA/NEDCo,” the statement read.

The association reiterated that such reassignments are standard practice within the company, citing numerous past examples of directors being moved across various departments and locations.

In response to the incident, the NEC demanded swift police action, including the retrieval of three seized company vehicles and the arrest of the perpetrators. It also called for full adherence to the reassignment directives issued by management and endorsed the decision by staff in Tamale to withdraw services temporarily for their safety.

The association appealed to Energy Minister John Jinapor to intervene, warning that any reversal of the reassignment could render NEDCo “ungovernable” and undermine corporate governance efforts.

“We would have no option but to advise ourselves if the reassignment is not respected,” the statement concluded.