The Ministry of Energy has requested that Parliament halt discussions on the controversial Ghana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill, which proposes a merger between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
The bill also seeks to create a Thermal Power Authority by consolidating the thermal assets of the Volta River Authority (VRA).
A statement signed by the Minister of State at the Ministry, Herbert Krapah, urged Parliament to suspend the bill for further consultations.
The Energy Bill, which comprises several legislative proposals, including the Ghana Thermal Authority Bill, 2024, and the Ghana Power Distribution Authority Bill, 2024, has faced considerable opposition.
Senior staff at the VRA have been particularly vocal in their criticism, fearing that the proposed merger would destabilize the organization.
They argue that the merger could undermine the operational capacity of the VRA, especially in the distribution and management of energy resources across the country.
In response to the proposed changes, VRA senior staff have staged protests, emphasizing the detrimental effects the merger could have on energy service delivery.
Demonstrators expressed their concerns over the bill’s potential impact on the VRA’s efficiency, warning that the merger could compromise its ability to ensure reliable and stable power supply.
