VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY OR VOLTA REVENUE AUTHORITY

Has the Volta River Authority, now turned from a power generation authority, into a power revenue authority? From Volta River Authority, into Volta Revenue Authority? Clearly in Ghana, a mere name change can be so expensive. When ordinary “Koobi” changes its name to Tilapia, it becomes very expensive.

Yes, our beloved Volta River Authority seems to have assumed a new status; a revenue authority status because each day, the only news I hear from them is how much more they want to extract from this nation, in the name of power generation. They claim to be generating power, and yet, each day in our various cities, the reality hits us; there is no power! We keep paying, but receive no power.

In Ghana today, it is one talk of a thermal plant after another. Each day, new thermal plants are being planned and cited. Various plants have been commissioned in the past year, and yet till date, no improvements have been noted. The situation is rather getting worse. Huge revenues are being pumped into power generation, and for what?

Quite recently, the Takoradi Thermal Plant was commissioned. Rather unfortunately, till date, nothing promising has been heard about its operations or functionality. What is happening with or to the newly commissioned Takoradi thermal plant? From all indications, Volta River Authority is dribbling around this issue. We are not being told much about its operations, and yet, we are being asked to pay more; pay for no service? That is the story of Ghana.

Volta River Authority is asking for increased tariffs, in order to serve us better; so they claim. What becomes the benchmark for better service, if all that we know of is disappointments? How are these tariffs going to be used? Is it to service our machines; most of them white elephants? Is it to add to their already overgrown salaries? Or as always, to feed the insatiable appetites of some people in some offices?

Let us learn to be serious as a people. Each day, taxes are taken from us; extorted perhaps, and yet, no account is given. People pay huge sums of monies as taxes or levies, each day, and yet, no remarkable development is attained or even sustained.

On our roads, monies go out as road taxes or levies, and yet, the poor nature of our roads is an unfortunate attestation. People pay water bills, but have no access to water. Huge monies are paid as communication taxes, and what do we get in return, poor communication networks. At our ports and harbours, this same trend of extortion persists. At our borders and checkpoints, it is the height of indiscipline and gross disappointment; from people we supposedly call our own. Not forgetting our tax-collecting police; junior Matthews’.

Is it then surprising, that our distinguished Volta River Authority, on grounds of their autonomy, is asking for outrageously increased tariffs? Increased tariffs, for power we do not have! They have turned into a revenue authority overnight. And as per the current development in this nation, their request, or better still as an authority, their demands, are being backed by a threat; a threat of worse services, as if their existing records, speaks otherwise.

In all this, Ghanaians sit and make no effort to correct the stench surrounding us! The stench that is gradually eating us all up! Instead of making all kinds of demands, let us also spend that much time, in correcting the ills in our lives. We need a change of attitude. This is a country, which is constantly making room for loss and wastage.

A newly commissioned thermal plant is not functioning, and yet, we are all silent. On this plant are all kinds of engineers, experienced as they may call themselves, and yet, their skills, knowledge, or experience cannot be applied to resolve the problems hindering their operations! And yet, they want increments! Our water supply and distribution system, after so many years of functionality, still leaves large rooms for all kinds of wastage. We keep complaining about water shortages, and yet, we are not looking at the root causes. Our roads are fast deteriorating and in deplorable states, but we do not question how our roads and revenues are being constructed or used, respectively. 

Who then speaks for us, considering the fact that most Ghanaians are reluctant to fight their own battles?

Anna Esi Hanson (nnhanson2@yahoo.com); esociocomm.blogspot.com