Govt urges VRA to watch its procurement

Accra, March 10, GNA - Government on Wednesday charged the Volta River Authority (VRA) to reduce its high operational costs which is estimated to be in the same league with total government purchases.

In this regard, the Authority is to examine its procurement practices across the country for its operations as a means of putting in order the finances of the nation's sole power provider.


Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy who said this at the swearing in of the last member of the VRA Board, Ing Mrs Marlien Bou-Chedid, did not state how much was involved but said it was vital that VRA, which was coming from a not too pleasant past, to wean itself of huge operational costs.


Ing Mrs Bou-Chedid was absent when President John Agyekum Kufuor swore in the other members of the Board last months. He urged the board member to look carefully at the procurement procedures and practices of VRA along with her colleagues, to make things get back to normal.


The Energy Minister said if between five to ten per cent of the costs could be reduced, "it will translate into reducing the total costs of power that is passed on to the final consumer."

He explained that, "the VRA has gone through uncertain times in the last couple of years and must do well to come out of the unfortunate situation that you find yourself," he added.


Dr Nduom said government is not pleased with the goings on at the VRA, adding that, " a lot needs to be done in order to put the VRA back on track."


He thanked Mrs Bou-Chedid for accepting to serve the nation at this critical period in its history and expressed the hope that things are transformed during their tenure.


Mrs Bou-Chedid, the Acting Secretary-General of the Ghana Institute of Engineers, promised to bring her experience to bear on the Authority and work to making it a flagship operator on the continent.