General News of Friday, 12 March 2004

Source: GNA

Parliament to set up committee to investigate VRA

Parliament on Thursday agreed to appoint a special committee to investigate the administration, financial management, procurement, technical operations and transaction agreements of the Volta River Authority (VRA).

The investigations would cover the period between January 1, 1982 to December 31, 2003.

The leadership of the House is yet to come out with the composition of the committee.

Mr. Seidu Adamu, NDC-Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai earlier moved a motion for the appointment of the committee but did not fix a specific date to be covered by the investigations.

Mr. Stephen Balado-Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South then moved an amended motion, which would allow the investigations to cover the last 20 years of VRA's work.

Mr. Adamu, in his submissions said developments at VRA had raised lot of issues that has become matters of public concerns.

He said the investigations should touch on whether technical expertise has been brought to bear on the operations of the VRA.

He wanted to find out if financial appraisals of project were conducted, if there was transparency in the operations of the VRA and whether there was "wilful or reckless financial loss in the operations of the organisation.

Mr. Adamu said the objective of the investigations was to safeguard, protect and preserve VRA as a strategic infrastructure that would provide a foundation for industrialisation and socio-economic development".

He explained that apart from the huge financial commitment to the strategic reserve plant, its failure led to the shutdown of VALCO, which led to the loss of revenue and jobs, among others. These, he said needed to be investigated.