... VRA's Losses In The Trillions
... Five-man team appointed to run VRA
Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Government on Monday said it has accepted the resignation of Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive and Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Engineering and Operations, both of Volta River Authority (VRA).
"Government has accepted their resignations, but does not expect to receive resignation letters from any other member of Management," Dr Kwesi Nduom the Minister of Energy told a press conference.
Dr Nduom said in place of the two top executives government has appointed a five-member management team under the chairmanship of Mr Kweku Awotwe, Managing Director, Strategic planning of the Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited, to oversee the running of the Authority pending the implementation of the Energy Sector Reforms.
The Minister said the departure of the two men would pave the way for peace in the affairs of the Authority and make it possible for government to carry out the changes anticipated in management with greater confidence.
Dr Nduom announced the suspension of some executive members, who worked with the two top executives in connection with the Strategic Reserve Plant (SRP) Project, for three months without pay in order to deter others in such positions from doing the same.
However, Dr Nduom, said media reports on the problems of the VRA had adversely affected the state of affairs at the Ministry of Energy and the lives of some people and their families.
He said specific claims of dismissal of some management staff of the VRA in some newspapers and on radio stations created a state of uncertainty and tension.
Touching on the Energy Sector Reforms, the Minister said it had led to the revision of the VRA Act to make it relevant to modern environment and to ensure that the Board is able to control the activities of the Chief Executive and Management.
He directed all energy institutions to deliver specific plans for cost reduction and customer service improvement because government was determined to improve on the management of the energy sector to a higher standard than was the case over the past decade.
Listing some disturbing trends in the power sector, Dr Nduom said over a decade, the nation's total hydropower generation had fallen from nearly 100 per cent to 35 per cent that resulted in the power crisis in 1998.
The Power Barge, which was constructed at Effasu in the Western Region at a cost of 110 million dollars, never produced power due to poor planning and implementation.
He said these and the dependence on power from Cote d'Ivoire and other non-performing investments have made the Authority cash poor and it has been experiencing financial losses over the past five years.
... VRA's Losses In The Trillions
... Five-man team appointed to run VRA
Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Government on Monday said it has accepted the resignation of Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive and Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Engineering and Operations, both of Volta River Authority (VRA).
"Government has accepted their resignations, but does not expect to receive resignation letters from any other member of Management," Dr Kwesi Nduom the Minister of Energy told a press conference.
Dr Nduom said in place of the two top executives government has appointed a five-member management team under the chairmanship of Mr Kweku Awotwe, Managing Director, Strategic planning of the Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited, to oversee the running of the Authority pending the implementation of the Energy Sector Reforms.
The Minister said the departure of the two men would pave the way for peace in the affairs of the Authority and make it possible for government to carry out the changes anticipated in management with greater confidence.
Dr Nduom announced the suspension of some executive members, who worked with the two top executives in connection with the Strategic Reserve Plant (SRP) Project, for three months without pay in order to deter others in such positions from doing the same.
However, Dr Nduom, said media reports on the problems of the VRA had adversely affected the state of affairs at the Ministry of Energy and the lives of some people and their families.
He said specific claims of dismissal of some management staff of the VRA in some newspapers and on radio stations created a state of uncertainty and tension.
Touching on the Energy Sector Reforms, the Minister said it had led to the revision of the VRA Act to make it relevant to modern environment and to ensure that the Board is able to control the activities of the Chief Executive and Management.
He directed all energy institutions to deliver specific plans for cost reduction and customer service improvement because government was determined to improve on the management of the energy sector to a higher standard than was the case over the past decade.
Listing some disturbing trends in the power sector, Dr Nduom said over a decade, the nation's total hydropower generation had fallen from nearly 100 per cent to 35 per cent that resulted in the power crisis in 1998.
The Power Barge, which was constructed at Effasu in the Western Region at a cost of 110 million dollars, never produced power due to poor planning and implementation.
He said these and the dependence on power from Cote d'Ivoire and other non-performing investments have made the Authority cash poor and it has been experiencing financial losses over the past five years.
