By Albert Futukpor
Tamale, Aug 06, GNA – Mr John Jinapor, Minister for Power and Green Transition has engaged stakeholders in the Northern Region as part of efforts to resolve the power sector impasse occasioned by the withdrawal of services by NEDCo/VRA staff following attacks on them.
He held separate engagements with the Northern Regional Minister and the Regional Security Council, Ya-Na Abukari II, Overlord of Dagbon, the Paramount Chief of Gulkpegu Traditional Area (Tamale), and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of the Volta River Authority (VRA)/Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
Mr Jinapor, briefing the press in Tamale on Tuesday after the engagements with the stakeholders, said “it does appear we are making very significant progress” in resolving the impasse.
He added that “I’m waiting for the Union (SSA of VRA/NEDCo) to send me their final feed. But the information I get from them sounds very positive. And so, I’m not leaving today. I will wait until I get the message from them. And then, we can restore power to all the affected areas.”
On July 31, the SSA of VRA/NEDCo withdrew all services in the Tamale Metropolis and its environs following an attack on some of its members in line of duty by some irate youth.
The affected staff were stopped, pulled out of their vehicles, and severely beaten with clubs and sticks with some narrowly escaping death.
The company’s vehicles were subsequently seized and taken to the Gulkpe-Naa’s Palace (Paramount Chief of Tamale).
The withdrawal of services by SSA of VRA/NEDCo has resulted in power outage in some parts of the Tamale Metropolis.
Mr Jinapor, who was on leave when the impasse began, said “As Minister, my vision is simple; to
restore normalcy, to bring about peace, and ensure that all the affected areas are brought back onto the national grid so that they can enjoy uninterrupted supply of power.”
He appealed to the youth of Tamale to exercise much restraint.
He dispelled rumors that he insulted Tamale people as thieves saying he was a son of the area and would not do anything untoward against the people of the area.
He said “To my surprise, when I came, I had been informed that I ever said that the people of Tamale are thieves. I have never said so. And let me make it clear that I will never say so. I have no cause to denigrate the people of Tamale.”
He added that “Mine is to ensure that I bring everybody on board. I have no sides. I have no preference. My preference is the people. My preference is the customers. My preference is to ensure that the workers go to work in peace.”
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/ Kenneth Odeng Adade