Reconstituted Board for VRA Resettlement Trust Fund Build Capacity

The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has reconstituted a 15 member Board, responsible for formulating policies and providing oversight leadership responsibility for the Volta River Authority Resettlement Trust Fund (VRA/RTF).

A three-day capacity building and orientation workshop was organized in Akuse by the Trust Fund to build the capacity of the Board of Trustees to be able to effectively address the challenges of improving the quality of life of the people living in the 52 resettlement communities. The workshop also sought to equip the new Board with the requisite knowledge in the scope and essence of best practice of good corporate governance, procurement and conflict management as well as acquaint the trustees with the mandate, processes and activities of the Trust Fund.

Opening the workshop, a Chief Director at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Professor Thomas M. Akabzaa, reminded the Trustees that they were carefully selected from different institutions with various expertise and it was his expectation that they would harmonize these diverse backgrounds for the achievement of the goals of the Trust Fund.

Prof. Akabzaa said it was his expectation that by the end of the orientation, the Trustees would fraternize and network to effectively work as a team to achieve the corporate goals of the VRA/RTF. He believed that the occasion would create the common interest and understanding required to drive the strategic objectives of improving the quality of life of the people in those resettlement communities.

Prof. Akabzaa expressed the hope that the Trustees would leave the orientation well informed and ready to put what they have learnt into practice to enhance the "Better Ghana Agenda".

The workshop Consultant, Mr. Brian Sapati, took the Trustees through such topics as: Procurement and Contract Management, Principles of Corporate Governance, Board Effectiveness, Financial Management, Corporate Image, Understanding Corporate Reports, Internal Control, Audit and Internal Review as well as Conflict of Interest, among others.

To give fair representation of the interest of the resettlement communities, the current Board of Trustees, largely Members of Parliament, were selected from the constituencies of some of the resettlement communities. Their Chairman is Ing. A. T. Barfour, Ghana Energy Development & Access Project. Other members of the Board include: Hon. Alhaji Amadu Seidu, MP for Yapei/Kusawgu; Hon. E. Kwasi Bandua, MP for Biakoye; Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso, MP for Krachi West; Hon. Alhaji Masawud Mohammed, MP for Pru West; Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Dey Abubakari, MP for Salaga South; Hon. Wisdom Gidisu, MP for Krachi East; Hon. Jeff Tetteh Kavianu, MP for Upper Manya Krobo; Hon. Magnus Kofi Amoatey, MP for Yilo Krobo; Hon. Joseph Appiah Boateng, MP for Afram Plains South; Hon. George Loh, MP for North Dayi; Mr. Maxwell Odoom, Deputy Chief Executive (Services) - VRA; Mr. Winfred Amenu, Legal Services Department - VRA; Ing. Stephen K. Doku, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum; and Mrs. Gloria Appoh, GIMPA.

The VRA/RTF was established in 1996 to address concerns of the resettlement communities that were resettled as a result of the Akosmbo Dam. The Board of Trustees are appointed for a period of four (4) years.

The Board of Trustees of the VRA Resettlement Trust Fund in a pose.

In other news (January, 2014)

• Kpong Generating Station Maintenance Team restores broken plant elevator.
• Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister tours Akosombo Generating Station.
• We are focused on executing uncompleted projects - Chief Executive assures.
• VRA to Support University of Energy and Natural Resources.
• Chief Executive wishes staff a fruitful New Year.
• AGRA - LIFE Foundation holds Book Fair at Akuse International School.
• Akosombo National Service Personnel fete Children.

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