this is a strategic industry governments should not play around with. unfornately, the government that is to create the enabling envoronment for its smooth operation has folded arm whiles it allows its agencies to sit on fund ... read full comment
this is a strategic industry governments should not play around with. unfornately, the government that is to create the enabling envoronment for its smooth operation has folded arm whiles it allows its agencies to sit on funds meant to empower operations. China is all over Africa for power to run her economy. we shoudn't take VRA for granted, otherwise the consequencies will be too much for us to bear. an upward tariff adjustment will only worsen the plight of poor families. let's be up and doing in tackling the heart of the problem.
silo 11 years ago
always is the same topic.
always is the same topic.
Concern Journalists Group 11 years ago
The current GJA executives have failed the Ghanaian journalists. they have disregarded the GJA constitution; failed to account for the three year stewardship, collected six ghana cedis for election 2012 EC ID Card instead of ... read full comment
The current GJA executives have failed the Ghanaian journalists. they have disregarded the GJA constitution; failed to account for the three year stewardship, collected six ghana cedis for election 2012 EC ID Card instead of five cedis charged by EC, collected money from starghana without accountability. collapse Greater Accra regional offices, all chapters in the region have collapsed. they have failed to organised annual GM. Their mandate ended last July but failed to organised elections, without any nec meeting postponed elections till now,
failed to submit 2012 GJA award winners prizes up to date. Poorly organised GJA awards dinner even though collected heavy funding
Theo 11 years ago
Why can't the government help
Why can't the government help
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
The VRA, as it stands today in personnel terms is an over-staffed and over-paid institution. This is just to begin with.
Now if the mission of the VRA is to generate power, and that of GRIDCo is to transmit power, and tha ... read full comment
The VRA, as it stands today in personnel terms is an over-staffed and over-paid institution. This is just to begin with.
Now if the mission of the VRA is to generate power, and that of GRIDCo is to transmit power, and that of ECG is to distribute, what is VRA doing accusing government (MDAs) of not paying for energy consumed? Does the VRA directly supply power to these government agencies? If not is it not the duty of GRIDCo or ECG to collect the monies from these agencies and pay VRA for the power purchased (by GRIDCo or ECG)?
Is it false that the West African Gas Pipeline has now been repaired and that gas supplies have resumed? This gas thing is also giving me some headaches. Towards the end of last year, we were told that as a result of some damage to the gas pipeline, the thermal plants could not operate properly as there was a shortfall in fuel. What surprises me is that in a period where there was little or no fuel, these guys (at the VRA) failed to do routine maintenance work on the plants, and now, when supplies seem to have resumed, they have announced a shut-down of the Takoradi plant to enable them do routine maintenance.
The funny part of this is that Mr. Fletcher is being reported as saying that this maintenance work has been necessitated by the institution’s inability to collect its debts from government, the increasing growth rate of electrical power demand in the country, and the depletion of power system reserve margins. The truth is that none of these factors can lead to the closing down of a machine for maintenance purposes; meaning that either the reporter did not get Mr. Fletcher right or Mr. Fletcher is telling us lies.
And here we are, in a country where a plant is closed down for 7 days just for combustion inspection, and then 21 days for Hot Gas Path inspection. How many workers will be involved in this activity? Is it not possible to increase the number of personnel and hours for the job in order to cut down the time spent in closing down a plant whose functioning is vital to the economy of the country? As I said earlier, this company is over-staffed, especially with top-level executives, over-paid, and when it comes to delivery, they are found wanting.
As individuals, whenever we are unable to pay our light bills the service provider disconnects our supply until we pay up. We are tax payers and pay our taxes. The MDAs must also be treated as individuals, and as such disconnected if they fail to pay. This is the way forward for this country. If we cannot do that, we cannot move forward. VRAs management cannot sit aloof and say MDAs owe us and have not paid so we lack funds to ensure a smooth and constant power supply.
With an over-paid and over-staffed workforce, it is logical that they seek an adjustment of tariffs in order to become a profitable or sustainable institution. Maybe they can start by streamlining their operations – cutting down their workforce, trimming their executive bonuses and salaries, and becoming more productive.
What is primary in attracting investors to play in the sector is the assurance of regular payments for the energy produced. This should and must be the responsibility of the energy distributor. If GRIDCo or ECG can assure a prospective energy producer of payments (prompt and regular) of the energy produced, the investor, even at current tariff rates can come in and invest – especially in the solar and possibly in the wind sector – knowing that with efficiency and high productivity profits could be made even at current tariff rates. The keywords are that of efficiency and productivity. Tariff increases alone do not make the energy sector productive.
Gegee 11 years ago
Nana Yaw, your comment is logically right but factually incorrect. The VRA also has distribution company called NEDCo operating in the middle and northern parts of Ghana so they also collect money from the MDAs.
On mainten ... read full comment
Nana Yaw, your comment is logically right but factually incorrect. The VRA also has distribution company called NEDCo operating in the middle and northern parts of Ghana so they also collect money from the MDAs.
On maintenance issues Mr. Fletcher is explaining that because Ghana dont have reserve margins, operators are forced to postpone some scheduled activities until they are very critical. Again what VRA is saying about the tariffs is that because the tariff is inadequate no private man would come and establish a power plant in Ghana to help reduce the problem. In otherwords if it cost 10p to generate electricity and the tariff says it should be sold at 8p then no businessman would venture into the business even if all consumers pay regularly and on time. If it's that eazy to build a renewable energy plant then why are people not shifting into those. why do ghanaians always talk as if they know everything? over-staffed, where are the numbers? over-paid? what are the figure? The ealier we wise up and solve our problems the better it will be for us. Afterall as my old prof always tells the class "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR"
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
Gegee,
There is nothing factually incorrect here. Thanks for mentioning NEDCo, I am aware of its existence but did not find it necessary to mention it.
Nowhere in the explanations given by Mr. Fletcher did he imply tha ... read full comment
Gegee,
There is nothing factually incorrect here. Thanks for mentioning NEDCo, I am aware of its existence but did not find it necessary to mention it.
Nowhere in the explanations given by Mr. Fletcher did he imply that the maintenance work has any relations with the reserve margins. If you claim his statement implied this direction, please quote that aspect. And tell me what you think of the inconsistencies of his remarks to the press.
On tariffs one has to be very careful when talking about them. The VRA is a state institution and even if their operations are to be “profitable” a lot of factors go in to make them profitable; for it is not only tariff increases that will make that institution profitable. First they should clean their house. And I repeat. VRA has overstaffing issues, and compared to many other public institutions the remuneration packages for their staff (especially the executives) is better than most of their public sector counterparts. If you want figures (which are not easy to obtain) I will get them for you in a week. If they (and many public enterprises) streamlined their operations and staff, improved on productivity and worked hand in hand with ECG and GRIDCo/NEDCo to enhance generation, delivery and collection of revenues, whatever rate is the current tariff will not necessarily be an impediment to their ability to provide uninterrupted power supply.
As regards investors, the greatest hindrance is not tariff. Otherwise, Asogli will not be operational and the VRA will not have partnered with other investors to undertake another phase of the Takoradi project. The problem with the entrance of investors is the regulatory framework, which today is cumbersome, and not very straightforward – especially if you are not a big-time investor. Trust me, I have been walking the corridors of the energy commission to start a solar farm and I know what I’m talking about.
Your old Prof. could be old but cannot be that right with his saying “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR” because in Ghana we pay for a lot of services and get little or nothing out of them. As I write, I’m using a lamp and the back-up battery on my laptop because power has been switched off. I do not owe any power supplier, I have paid my taxes and continue to pay them, but what do I get in return?
Why do you ask why Ghanaians "talk as if they know everything?" Is it because I am calling for some responsibility, efficiency and productivity from our public servants?
its me 11 years ago
This is ridiculous. You guys are appointed by people we vote in to provide solutions and you come and sit here and talk such trash. Increase the tarriffs? Your are incompetent. Go away for better people to take your place. Yo ... read full comment
This is ridiculous. You guys are appointed by people we vote in to provide solutions and you come and sit here and talk such trash. Increase the tarriffs? Your are incompetent. Go away for better people to take your place. You been there since Atta Mills and have failed us.
Wallance 11 years ago
just cut your huge salaries by just 0.5% and you will operate for 10 years with surpluses.
just cut your huge salaries by just 0.5% and you will operate for 10 years with surpluses.
HALDTALK 11 years ago
THERE ARE SOME WIND ENERGY TECHNICIANS GHANAIANS ABROAD (GERMANY) TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEM IN GHANA. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD GET CONTACT TO GHANAIANS ABROAD TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEM IN GHANA.
THERE ARE SOME WIND ENERGY TECHNICIANS GHANAIANS ABROAD (GERMANY) TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEM IN GHANA. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD GET CONTACT TO GHANAIANS ABROAD TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEM IN GHANA.
Paul Amuna 11 years ago
At this rate, we deceive ourselves if we expect our pace of development to increase. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah recognised the central role of energy and power generation for industrial output and economic emancipation. His go ... read full comment
At this rate, we deceive ourselves if we expect our pace of development to increase. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah recognised the central role of energy and power generation for industrial output and economic emancipation. His government set up the structures which we still largely depend on now in the 21st Century. He was roundly condemned by his political opponents supported by external detractors at the time for "wasting Ghana's financial resources". Funny old world.
I wonder which of these critics and politicians has added significantly to that initial investment. The Bui dam may be cited as a Kufour 'big idea'. If you check the records, it was part of the development plan in Nkrumah's blueprint for Ghana's development and to their credit, Rawlings and Kufour worked towards implementation. Some may also argue that the PNDC government scaled up the national electrification programme extending HEP to all the regions. But the plans for that project were already beginning under the Limann administration and if anything, the military intervention which Rawlings led delayed implementation.
What we need is forward thinking and long term planning and projections which go beyond party politics. We also need serious investment in the energy sector and to cut down on waste. The current power outages are costing businesses a huge amount which typically in Ghana, is not being costed in real economic loss to businesses. Shame!
National Narcotics Party 11 years ago
Don't mind this buffoon! Yet the have numerous consultants they are paying in USD. Consultants who don't do FUCKO! Then you are here moaning about what? What is your monthly salary? I'm sure its BIG.... DO you fucking job , i ... read full comment
Don't mind this buffoon! Yet the have numerous consultants they are paying in USD. Consultants who don't do FUCKO! Then you are here moaning about what? What is your monthly salary? I'm sure its BIG.... DO you fucking job , it's what you are being paid that fat salary for!
this is a strategic industry governments should not play around with. unfornately, the government that is to create the enabling envoronment for its smooth operation has folded arm whiles it allows its agencies to sit on fund ...
read full comment
always is the same topic.
The current GJA executives have failed the Ghanaian journalists. they have disregarded the GJA constitution; failed to account for the three year stewardship, collected six ghana cedis for election 2012 EC ID Card instead of ...
read full comment
Why can't the government help
The VRA, as it stands today in personnel terms is an over-staffed and over-paid institution. This is just to begin with.
Now if the mission of the VRA is to generate power, and that of GRIDCo is to transmit power, and tha ...
read full comment
Nana Yaw, your comment is logically right but factually incorrect. The VRA also has distribution company called NEDCo operating in the middle and northern parts of Ghana so they also collect money from the MDAs.
On mainten ...
read full comment
Gegee,
There is nothing factually incorrect here. Thanks for mentioning NEDCo, I am aware of its existence but did not find it necessary to mention it.
Nowhere in the explanations given by Mr. Fletcher did he imply tha ...
read full comment
This is ridiculous. You guys are appointed by people we vote in to provide solutions and you come and sit here and talk such trash. Increase the tarriffs? Your are incompetent. Go away for better people to take your place. Yo ...
read full comment
just cut your huge salaries by just 0.5% and you will operate for 10 years with surpluses.
THERE ARE SOME WIND ENERGY TECHNICIANS GHANAIANS ABROAD (GERMANY) TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEM IN GHANA. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD GET CONTACT TO GHANAIANS ABROAD TO SOLVE THE ENERGY PROBLEM IN GHANA.
At this rate, we deceive ourselves if we expect our pace of development to increase. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah recognised the central role of energy and power generation for industrial output and economic emancipation. His go ...
read full comment
Don't mind this buffoon! Yet the have numerous consultants they are paying in USD. Consultants who don't do FUCKO! Then you are here moaning about what? What is your monthly salary? I'm sure its BIG.... DO you fucking job , i ...
read full comment