Editorial News of Thursday, 30 August 2001

Source: The Independent

Why Volta River Authority boss was fired

The Independent says information available to it indicates that Gilbert Ohene Dokyi was fired as Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA) because he refused to proceed on leave.

Sources close to the Energy Ministry disclosed that Ohene Dokyi categorically refused to proceed on leave when he was asked to do so, thus compelling the Government to dismiss him.

The former VRA boss’ dismissal is however said to have resulted in some harsh reactions from some high profile executives in the energy sector and at the Electro-Volta House, headquarters of both the VRA and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Albert Kan-Dapaah was on Wednesday quoted by the state-owned Daily Graphic as saying that the former VRA Chief Executive was asked to proceed on leave and it was in the course of discussing this that the information was leaked to the press.

Sources at Electro-Volta House opined that whilst they cannot dictate to the Government on appointments the Energy Minister should refrain from economising on truth regarding happenings in his sector.

High profile executives at the Electro-Volta House who spoke to this paper took the Energy Minister to the cleaners for what one of them termed his "comical spins" in appointments to the headships of the two energy institutions.