VRA Management Side With Power Ministry; Insists Staff Strike Over

The management of the Volta River Authority (VRA) appears to be at odds with its staff as it has come out to say its workers are not striking in protest of the planned ceding of the Aboadze T3 plant to AMERI.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Head of Corporate Communications at the VRA, Getrude Koomsoon, stated that she was “not aware that VRA staff are on strike.”
“I can deny that VRA staff are on strike,” she insisted.
Her comments on the issue are aligned with that of the Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor, who told the media after meeting with the staff unions of VRA, that the strike had been called off due to plans of a scheduled meeting on 15th August with key stakeholders to address the concerns raised.
The leadership of the staff however insisted they were still on strike and urged its workers to disregard remarks made by Mr. Jinapor.
“We urge all VRA staff to disregard the conflicting messages as to the suspension of our legitimate actions aimed at bringing to the attention of the good people of Ghana the overt and covert action of the perpetrators [Power Ministry],” the staff leadership said.
Mrs. Koomson for her part said she was “not aware that there is a change in plan but we now that in two weeks’ time, we are all going to meet, and see how far we have gone with whatever consultations are going on.”
She expressed hope that the two week period would “be an opportunity for all parties to consult further and get further and better particulars and when we meet next two weeks, it will be a forum where we come to a point where we understand each other.”
Background
The rift with the Power Ministry came to light when a letter sighted by Citi News conveyed the discontent of VRA staff with moves by the Ministry to cede the T3 plant in the Aboadze thermal enclave, MRP at the Tema Thermal Power station and a parcel of land at the Kpone Thermal Power Station to external parties.
They further served notice they will protest against the Ministry of Power over what they called the interference of the Ministry in the affairs of the authority.
The letter, addressed to the Chief Executive of the VRA, explained that the staff “resolved to utilize all available lawful means to resist the perpetration of unwarranted dissipation of the Authority’s assets.”
The staff asserted that the listed entities “are a clear crucial to the sustenance of the Volta River Authority as a major player in the energy sector in Ghana and the West Africa Sub-region.”