Takoradi, Oct. 15, GNA - The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Volta River Authority (VRA) are to be re-structured to improve their services, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy, announced in Takoradi on Wednesday.

Under the re-structuring, the ECG and the Northern Electricity Department of VRA would be merged into one company, he told a meeting of ECG staff in Takoradi during a three-day tour of the Western Region. Dr Nduom said a committee had been set up to make recommendations on how best to make this happen in the shortest possible time.

He said the Aboadze Thermal Plant and the Takoradi International Company, a private energy outfit located at the plant, would also merge to form a new company independent of the VRA.

He said the Akosombo Dam generating system and other existing dams in the country would also be merged to establish a different corporate entity.

Dr Nduom said energy distribution companies would need about 120 million dollars to review infrastructure and acquire the technology that would make them more efficient and customer service oriented.

He said Ghana owed Ivory Coast 50 million dollars in arrears for imported electricity, adding that the benefactor had indicated its intention to cut off power supply to the country if the ECG did not pay half of the debt soon.

Dr Nduom said his Ministry would find money to settle the debt.