VRA @ 64 - Embracing Innovation and Investing in Workplace to Provide Reliable Power
The Acting Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, has urged staff and management of the Authority to embrace new technologies and ideas, improve service delivery, imbibe innovation and creativity in providing reliable and affordable electricity.
He made the call at the 64th anniversary celebration of the VRA at Akuse in the Eastern Region. The day, recognised as VRA Creativity and Innovations Day, was marked under the theme “Unite, Explore and Innovate”. Staff at various workstations congregated at their respective meeting points to view the thought-provoking round table discussion, which was on the topic “Harnessing innovation for service excellence”.
Ing Obeng Kenzo noted that “digital transformation, customer-centric approaches, internal process optimization and strategic planning will continue to be the guiding principle in the authority’s pursuit for a sustainable future and the execution of the growth agenda”.
These, he explained, has become imperative because “the environment of our business has taken a new dimension. The increasing competition, the rapidly changing policy and regulatory environment, and the global energy transition drive, all have a telling effect on our business.”
Reminding staff about the rapid unfolding trends in the energy industry, he said, the best strategy is to run the business with a different mindset and operate in a way that provides value to the stakeholders and maintain its market lead.
“We need to continue to build on our quest to deliver reliable and affordable electricity, and demonstrate with clear actions, our strong belief in developing local talent. Fortunately, we already have an esteemed workforce with differentiated values, skills and competence that can easily be harnessed to provide superior service delivery, innovative solutions, and responsiveness to our new business strategy,” he stated.
Ing Obeng-Kenzo pledged to provide the quality leadership with committed to increase the efficiency and reliability of VRA’s operations, grow the capacity of its generation portfolio, reduce equipment downtime, and enhance overall organizational performance.
He is of the conviction that the VRA can renew its commitment to increase productivity and efficiency by making it habitual to find new ideas, fresh energy, and attract novel partnerships to help sustain the business.
“We will therefore invest heavily in talent development; attract, develop, and retain top talent, while fostering a culture of innovation, safety, and excellence that can shape the landscape of our productivity,” he added.
In her welcome address, the Creativity and Innovation Coordinator, Ing Sophia Abena Tijani, explained how the theme echoes the global sentiment, and challenges the VRA family to unite, collaborate, connect ideas across units, disciplines, departments, to find solutions for the Authority and Ghana.
“We are also challenged today to explore new ways, new systems, and new techniques that we can use to redefine the way we deliver energy to our people and impact lives,” she said.
Empowering world class workforce
The Acting Chief Executive of The Volta River Authority also affirmed his commitment to talent development to ensure that the state power producer remains a world-class engineering institution.
“This training and other strategic management practices have become critical due to increasing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, and the global energy transition drive within the energy sector. We will therefore invest heavily in talent development; attract, develop, and retain top talent, while fostering a culture of innovation, safety, and excellence that can shape the landscape of our productivity” he noted.
The Authority in the past two years sponsored 18 Hydro and Thermal Staff to Canada for a novel quasi-classroom/twinning arrangement with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan Power (SaskPower) in Canada.
The training program is in line with a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between VRA and CPI Training of Canada.
The initial program featured two cohorts of Operating Staff from the Thermal Generation Department. Each cohort consisted of five Operating Staff who spent three months in Saskatoon, Canada. The first six weeks focused on practical, in-class training at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, followed by an additional six-week job shadowing role at SaskPower’s Queen Elizabeth Power Station. Subsequently, staff from the Hydro Generation Department have also been sent to work at various hydro plants belonging to SaskPower in Canada.
Ing. Obeng-Kenzo announced that in September this year, the Authority will commence another novel training program for its Welders to be trained and receive international certification in Canada.
He noted that as the forerunner of the energy industry in the country, the VRA has, in the last 64 years, added value to many lives, powered economies, and raised the living standards of Ghanaians and West Africans. He commended staff, both past and present, for their dedication, commitment, and sacrifice that have culminated in the many renowned achievements that the Authority has attained, including providing energy to power the economy of Ghana and some West African nations.
The Creativity and Innovation Coordinator, Ing Sophia Abena Tijani, said the gathering was an opportunity for the authority to reflect on its over six-decade journey of powering homes, industries, dreams, and the development of Ghana and beyond. “As we honour this legacy, we also recognize that the next frontier of excellence will be powered not just by infrastructure and investment, but by ideas, collaborations, and innovations,” she indicated.
The discussion, which attracted experts in the energy and related fields, was meant to provoke staff and management to reflect on how collectively they can continue to serve Ghanaians better and maintain the authority's relevance in Ghana and the regional electricity market.
