John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister-designate for Energy, has disclosed plans to merge the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Bui Power Authority (BPA) into a single entity to enhance efficiency while ensuring public control.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee today, Jinapor explained, “We believe that we can merge Bui Power and VRA so we can have something like Ghana Power Company. We do not intend to privatize.”
He elaborated that the proposed merger would result in a holding company overseeing three subsidiaries: hydro, thermal, and renewable components. “We do not intend to privatize any of those plants because they produce about 45% of our national requirement. As a strategic step, you do not put all of your energy access in private hands,” he added.
Assuring workers of inclusive consultations, Jinapor noted, “We will consult them. This is just an idea we intend to implement. If we need to tweak it, we will do that with them to bring about efficiency.”
Jinapor also addressed the country’s nuclear power aspirations, stating, “The earliest we can get power from nuclear is six years. That is even if we tick all the boxes, except our approach is different.”
Positioning himself as a reform-oriented leader, Jinapor remarked, “I want to be remembered as a young minister who insists on discipline. I know I will step on toes, but I will step on them gently.”
With Ghana grappling with energy sector inefficiencies and debt, Jinapor’s vision promises transformative reforms without compromising public control of strategic resources.
