Volta River Authority(VRA)Denies Blame for Recent Power Outages
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has said they are not to blame for the recent power cuts in the country. There were accusations that the VRA is sending too much electricity to nearby countries. However, the VRA clarified in a statement dated March 24 that these claims are wrong and misleading.
According to the VRA, they’ve been providing power to neighboring countries since 1972 while still fulfilling their duty to supply reliable and affordable electricity to Ghana. They also mentioned that the allocation of power from certain stations is overseen by the Electricity Market Oversight Panel (EMOP) rather than solely by the VRA. This ensures that Ghana’s needs are prioritized.
The VRA explained that this arrangement aligns with government policies aimed at optimizing the nation’s hydro resources in the long term. These statements come after the Independent Power Generators, Ghana (IPGG), blamed the VRA for the power outages, stating that the VRA is focusing more on exporting electricity than meeting local demands.
Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, CEO of IPGG, emphasized that while the VRA has a mandate to explore export markets to ease government’s capacity burden, it should do so lawfully.
Despite these accusations, the VRA reassured the public and stakeholders that they will continue prioritizing electricity supply to Ghana, adhering to their mandate, government directives, and regulatory requirements.
