Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), has vowed to tackle receivables challenges and lead the national power generator toward innovative solutions to secure Ghana’s energy future.
Addressing the 2024 Biennial National Delegates Congress of the VRA Senior Staff Association (SSA) in Koforidua, he pledged his commitment to revitalizing VRA and ensuring Ghana’s energy security through the provision of resources, training, and strategic leadership.
He emphasized the need for both individual and collective action to address critical challenges in the energy generation sector, urging all stakeholders to collaborate in finding sustainable solutions to bolster Ghana’s energy security, reliability, and affordability.
Speaking on the theme “The Impact of Receivables Challenges on the Operations of VRA/NEDCo: Ghana’s Energy Security,” Mr. Obeng-Kenzo highlighted the importance of reliable and sustainable energy for economic growth and development.
“Our services impact all facets of the economy, from manufacturing and education to healthcare and security,” he stated, underscoring the far-reaching influence of VRA and its subsidiary, NEDCo.
The CEO identified key factors contributing to VRA’s receivables challenges, including unreliable power supply, perceived high production costs, delays in billing, and illegal power connections.
He urged staff to innovate and contribute proactively. “As partners in good corporate governance, let us commit to improving our efficiency and productivity while safeguarding the VRA brand built over decades.”
Mr. Obeng-Kenzo commended the resilience and dedication of the staff, whose efforts have steered the authority over its 63-year history.
He acknowledged the need to adapt to a changing business landscape where private energy companies are making strides, cautioning, “We risk being left behind if we do not rise to the occasion.”
He outlined steps to improve debt collection and revenue performance, emphasizing collaboration, integrity, and adherence to VRA’s core values. “Each of us has a role to play in ensuring the financial health and operational success of this institution.”
Despite these challenges, Mr. Obeng-Kenzo expressed optimism about VRA’s future, pledging resources, training, and strategic leadership to sustain it for the next six decades.
He urged employees to align their efforts with the overarching goal of delivering reliable and affordable electricity to Ghanaians and businesses.
As VRA approaches its 64th anniversary, he reaffirmed his belief in the collective power of patriotism and unity to drive the authority and the nation forward, saying, “Together, we can make VRA and Ghana great again.”
The 2024 Congress addressed key issues arising from the 2022 Congress. Delegates reviewed leadership accounts, focusing on the financial performance and position of the Association for the latter half of 2022, as well as for 2023 and 2024.
This provided an in-depth analysis of the association’s progress and areas for improvement.
The Congress also served as a platform to update members on activities undertaken by the National Executive Committee since their election in March 2023, covering initiatives and achievements up to December 2024.
Another focal point was an exploration of the Association’s motto, “Partners in Good Corporate Governance.”
Delegates identified innovative ways to collaborate with management to enhance VRA’s performance and improve staff conditions of service, ensuring the authority’s sustained growth and operational efficiency.
Mr. Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, National Chairperson of VRA SSA, emphasized the critical role of the association in sustaining and improving VRA’s operations and its subsidiary, NEDCo.
He highlighted key challenges, including the revised cash waterfall mechanism and high distribution losses—primarily due to power theft—particularly in the Tamale metropolis.
Despite efforts by the Boards, management, and staff of VRA and NEDCo to achieve their vision of becoming “a model of excellence for power utilities in Africa,” both entities continue to face operational and cash flow challenges.
Mr. Ahia noted that VRA’s market share had dropped from 63.8% in 2019 to 50.3% as of March 24, 2025.
He further stated that NEDCo was grappling with commercial and technical losses, hindering its financial performance and liquidity.
Addressing these challenges, he stressed the need for collaboration between management and the SSA to implement strategic measures.
These measures include contesting the revised cash waterfall mechanism and unfair competition in the electricity market, converting simple cycle plants into combined cycle plants, repowering the T3 plant, and introducing technology to reduce distribution losses, particularly in Tamale.
Mr. Ahia underscored the importance of motivating staff, improving supervision, enhancing productivity, and safeguarding staff conditions of service.
He therefore called for the appointment of competent leaders and resistance against government efforts to pass certain energy sector bills, such as the “Ghana Hydro Authority,” “Ghana Thermal Authority,” and “Ghana Distribution Authority” bills.
He also opposed the proposed merger of NEDCo with ECG under private sector participation.
The 2024 SSA Congress convened leading experts in the electricity market for a panel discussion to identify critical challenges and formulate proposed solutions.
Mr. Ahia expressed confidence that these discussions would contribute to the long-term viability and sustainability of VRA and NEDCo, enabling them to play a more effective role in securing Ghana’s energy future.