The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has been urged to address growing governance, operational, and financial challenges as it works to maintain its role as the country's premier electricity transmission operator.The National Chairman of the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of GRIDCo, Mr Wisdom Kojo Adenyo, made the call at the 7th Biennial Delegates Congress of the GRIDCo SSA here yesterday, and said the company's financial health was under threat and called for urgent reforms and improved collaboration between the staff and management.The programme was under the theme "Forging partnership for a resilient and sustainable energy future."Mr Adenyo expressed concern over issues including declining revenue, rising debt levels, forex losses, aging infrastructure, and governance challenges.The National Chairman of GRIDCo SSA criticised the practice in which qualified and experienced internal officers were bypassed and external individuals were recruited into senior roles, saying the practice violated the company's Conditions of Service."This trend risks demoralising staff and increasing the company's wage bill at a time when cash flow is already constrained," he said, adding that it could lead to low productivity.Mr Adenyo proposed key reforms, including securing tax waivers on imported equipment, fully implementing the Cash Waterfall Mechanism, recovering debts from major clients such as ECG, and investing in grid modernisation.He encouraged the staff to work together to address the challenges that undermined GRIDCo's operations.Mr Adenyo, who was re-elected as the SSA National Chairman, thanked the members of the association for reelecting him and promised to work together with the new officers elected to continue their work.The Acting Deputy Chief Executive of GRIDCo, Mr Frank Otchere, speaking at the congress reaffirmed the company's commitment to strengthening its transmission infrastructure to support national development.He said GRIDCo was working with development partners including the World Bank, Millennium Development Authority, French Development Agency, and European Union on some key infrastructure projects.Mr Otchere mentioned the company's adoption of smart grid technologies and support for renewable energy integration, highlighting the company's involvement in the Bui Solar Project in Yendi.He disclosed that GRIDCo was collaborating with the Forestry Commission to plant low-growing shrubs along transmission corridors to prevent illegal tree cutting and protect infrastructure.Mr Otchere congratulated and urged the newly elected national executives to prioritise the welfare of the staff and to help the company to achieve its target. FROM GEOFFREY BUTA, TAMALE
GRIDCo urged to tackle governance, financial challenges - Ghanaian Times
Published:
5 hours ago
Source:
Ghanaian Times