VRA Interdicts 2 Officers

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has interdicted the Deputy Chief Executive, Resources and Services, Eric Yankah and Director of Human Resources, Major John Gyasi (rtd) with immediate effect. The two are alleged to have leaked information to the press, which resulted in a publication in last Friday’s edition of the Ghanaian Chronicle under the headline, “Tarzan's Reign of Terror.”

The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Jones Ofori Atta told the press that their interdiction forms part of moves to seal perceived leakages in the authority, which have allowed for official internal information to be leaked to the press.

The two were cited in a ‘Ghanaian Chronicle’ report as recipients of an internal memorandum on the Provident Fund, which the VRA board describes as a serious institutionalised fraud. The board says the memorandum on the Provident Fund, which was leaked to the Press was served to only the two officers while no copies were made or placed on any official files.

The board expressed absolute confidence in the Chief Executive, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey (Tarzan), who has come under media criticisms lately for his reckless use of power and bullying tactics of administration, among other things. Dr Ofori-Atta said the media attacks on the VRA had succeeded in sowing panic on impending shortage of power while some sought to attack the integrity of the VRA and to generate confusion within the workforce.

He said the Board mandated Dr Wereko-Brobbey to restructure the organisation to ensure efficiency and above all eliminate corruption. The mandate given to the Chief Executive included the suspension of the Provident Fund as part of measures to ensure that staff contributions were safe while investigations into its administration continued.

Dr Wereko-Brobbey also denied an allegation in the Chronicle report concerning the construction of an executive bathroom attached to his office. He explained that he only dismantled a kitchenette that was not serving any purpose to install a shower. This, according to the chief executive, was to enable him to freshen up on occasions when he is required to attend official functions in the evenings.

Reacting to another allegation that that he has taken residence at the VRA’s guesthouse at Akuse, from where he commutes daily to Accra, Dr. Wereko Brobbey explained that it was a temporary measure while he waits for the immediate retired Chief Executive to vacate the Authority's official residence. He noted that the leakages in the system could best be described as attempts to blackmail efforts being made to rid the authority of corrupt practices.