By D.I. Laary, GNA
Koforidua, March 30, GNA – Mr. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, who was recently named as the new CEO of Volta River Authority (VRA), has pledged to address billing issues and steer the country’s primary electricity provider towards groundbreaking strategies to ensure Ghana’s energy security.
At the 2024 Biennial National Delegates Congress of the VRA Senior Staff Association (SSA) held in Koforidua, he assured them of his dedication to rejuvenating VRA and safeguarding Ghana’s energy security by supplying necessary resources, conducting training programs, and offering strategic leadership to maintain sustainability.
He emphasized the importance of combining personal efforts with group initiatives to address the significant issues confronting the country in the realm of energy production. He called upon every stakeholder to work together in discovering enduring answers aimed at strengthening Ghana’s energy security, dependability, and cost-effectiveness.
Discussing the topic “The Effect of Receivables Issues on the Functionality of VRA/NEDCo: A Pillar of Ghana’s Energy Stability,” Mr. Obeng-Kenzo highlighted the significance of consistent and dependable power supply for swift economic advancement and progress.
Our services affect various sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, education, healthcare, and security,” he remarked, emphasizing the extensive reach of VRA along with its affiliate, NEDCo.
The CEO pinpointed major reasons for VRA’s difficulties with accounts receivable, such as an inconsistent power supply, believed-to-be elevated production expenses, lags in invoicing, and unauthorized electrical hookups.
He encouraged employees to be innovative and proactive contributors. “As partners in excellent corporate governance, we must pledge to enhance our effectiveness and output while protecting the VRA brand established over many years.”
Mr. Obeng-Kenzo praised the resilience and commitment of the team, noting that their hard work has guided the organization through its 63-year journey.
He recognized the necessity of adapting to an evolving business environment where private energy firms are advancing, warning; “If we fail to step up to the challenge, we might get left behind.”
He detailed measures for enhancing debt recovery and boosting revenues, stressing teamwork, honesty, and commitment to VRA’s fundamental principles. “Everyone here must contribute to maintaining our fiscal well-being and achieving operational excellence.”
In spite of these difficulties, Mr. Obeng-Kenzo remained optimistic regarding VRA’s future, vowing to allocate resources, provide training, and offer strategic leadership to ensure its sustainability over the coming sixty years.
He encouraged the staff to coordinate their efforts toward achieving the primary objective of providing dependable and cost-effective power for both Ghanaian residents and enterprises.
As VRA gets closer to its 64th
th
anniversary, he also reaffirmed his belief in the collective power of patriotism and unity to drive the authority and the nation forward, saying: “Together, we can make VRA and Ghana great again.”
The 2024 Congress tackled major concerns stemming from the 2022 gathering. Attendees examined reports on how their leaders managed responsibilities. The discussions centered on the financial standing and outcomes of the Association during the second half of 2022 as well as throughout 2023 and into 2024.
This offered a detailed examination of the association’s advancements and regions where enhancements could still be made.
The congress was also an opportunity to brief members about the actions taken by the National Executive Committee following their election in March 2023, encompassing various initiatives and accomplishments through December 2024.
A key area of focus was examining the Association’s slogan, “Partners in Good Corporate Governance.”
Participants discovered creative methods to work alongside management in boosting VRA’s effectiveness and upgrading employee benefits to secure the organization’s continuous development and operational proficiency.
Mr. Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, who serves as the National Chairperson of VRA SSA, highlighted the essential function of the organization in maintaining and enhancing the activities of both VRA and its affiliate, NEDCo.
He highlighted several difficult problems, such as the modified cash waterfall process and significant distribution losses—a result of electricity theft—especially prevalent in the Tamale metropolitan area.
He observed that even though the Boards, management, and employees of VRA and NEDCo were striving towards their ambition of setting “an exemplary standard among African power providers,” they still encountered ongoing issues with operations and financial liquidity.
Mr. Ahia mentioned that VRA’s market share has decreased, falling from 63.8 percent in 2019 to 50.3 percent by March 24, 2025.
He went on to say that NEDCo has been struggling with both commercial and technical losses, these issues have adversely affected its financial health and ability to maintain adequate liquidity.
He stated that tackling these issues necessitated cooperation between management and the SSA to put into action strategic initiatives.
These include challenging the updated cash flow hierarchy, addressing anticompetitive practices within the electricity sector, transforming single-cycle facilities into combined-cycle ones, upgrading the T3 facility through repowering, and implementing technologies aimed at decreasing power distribution losses, with a focus on improvements in Tamale.
Mr. Ahia emphasized the significance of boosting employee motivation, strengthening oversight, increasing efficiency, and protecting the terms of employment for staff members.
Consequently, he advocated for selecting capable leadership and opposing the government’s efforts to enact certain energy-related legislation, including the “Ghana Hydro Authority,” “Ghana Thermal Authority,” and “Ghana Distribution Authority” bills.
He similarly called for an end to attempts at merging NEDCo with ECG through private sector involvement.
The 2024 SSA Congress brought together prominent figures from the electricity sector for a panel discussion aimed at pinpointing key obstacles and developing suggested resolutions.
Mr. Ahia showed optimism that these conversations will contribute to ensuring the longevity and sustainability of VRA and NEDCo, allowing them to take on a more impactful role in shaping Ghana’s energy landscape.
GNA
DL/KOA
