Aboadze(W/R),Jan.12, GNA 97 The Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr. Kweku Andoh Awotwi, has said the Authority would play a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the nation in the next 50 years to propel the country into a developed economy. Mr. Awotwi said this at the launch of the VRA's golden jubilee celebration at Aboadze.

It was on the theme 93Powering the Economy of Ghana and Setting the Standard for Public Sector Excellence." "The VRA will play an equally pivotal role in the socio-economic development of Ghana, and have huge impact on the West African sub-region i= n the next 50," he said.

It has lined up a number of activities to commemorate the celebration= s which include symposia, public discussion, exhibition, essay competitions, quizzes and raffles that would culminate in an Open Day, grand durbar and dinner dance in April.

He said the VRA was established in 1961 to generate power for domestic= , commercial and industrial use and thus commended the past and present chief executives, the Board members and the staff who had contributed in diverse ways in ensuring successes.

Mr. Awotwi said VRA would use the celebration to reflect on its shortcomings, strength and lessons learnt over the past fifty years. It would focus on activities that would enhance its services to the public since there would be competition from other power producers. "With the deregulation of the Ghana electricity sector, the completio= n of the West African Gas Pipeline, the discovery of gas offshore there is enormous potential for growth in electricity in Ghana and West Africa and great prospects for those utilities that are efficient, competitive and competent," Mr. Awotwi said.

He appealed to his fellow management members, staff and partners to work extra hard to maintain its position as the flagship power producers in the country and the West African sub-region.