Akosombo (E/R), April 29, GNA- Government has approved $400 million to the Ghana Grid Company and Electricity Company of Ghana to expand their infrastructure and rehabilitate existing ones, Vice President John Dramani Mahama has said.

He said another budget had been approved for the development of Damuli Gas Project in the Western Region to supplement gas supply from Nigeria and to develop the country's Thermal plants at Aboadze and Tema.

Vice President Mahama announced this when he addressed the Management and Staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) as part of the week-long 50th Anniversary celebration of the Authority at Akosombo in the Eastern Region.

The VRA was established in 1961 by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, First President of Ghana to among other mandate manage the affairs of the state-of the-art hydro-electric power plant. The VRA was also mandated to harness the potentials of the Volta Lake to accelerate the development of Ghana after independence. Vice President Mahama said government would marshal financial and other logistical support for the VRA to attain the status of a multi-national corporation to supply electricity to African countries and beyond.

He commended the VRA for playing a leading role in the supply of power to some countries in West Africa, adding: 93We will give you all the necessary support to achieve that goal." The Vice President advised the VRA to put in adequate measures to avoid cable theft and meter-by pass, which had caused the authority financially.

Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy urged the workers to eschew complacency and initiate programmes that could attract foreign partners.

He urged them to use their experience and expertise to develop other sectors that could make them continental consultants in the realm of energy.

Mr Kweku Andoh Awotwi, Chief Executive Officer of VRA said his outfit was positioning itself for deregulated electricity market where there would be fierce competition. 29 April 11