Serious opposition has emerged within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus and among the staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) over the potential appointment of Mr. Ekow Obeng Kenzo as the Acting Chief Executive of the authority.

Stakeholders argue that his appointment would be a major setback for the VRA, citing allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power.

In a press statement, the NDC caucus and VRA staff expressed concerns over Mr. Kenzo’s alleged involvement in a $52 million sole-sourcing procurement scandal in 2022 alongside the then-Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Antwi Darkwa.

The scandal, which was reportedly exposed on ‘With All Due Respect TV (WADR-TV)’, raised serious concerns about transparency and financial accountability within the VRA.

The opposition to Mr. Kenzo’s appointment also stems from his alleged mismanagement of the Akosombo Dam spillage in 2023, which resulted in severe flooding that displaced thousands of people along the Volta Lake.

Critics accuse him of failing to properly engage stakeholders and implement necessary precautionary measures before opening the spillway gates.

Additionally, several VRA staff have accused Mr. Kenzo of fostering a hostile work environment, describing his leadership style as authoritarian and oppressive.

He has been labelled a workplace bully, with staff complaining about his unilateral decision-making and lack of inclusivity.

The VRA Ladies Association has also reportedly raised concerns about favouritism in promotions, claiming that some individuals were elevated based on personal relationships rather than merit.

Furthermore, Mr. Kenzo is being criticized for his lack of significant contributions to Ghana’s power generation capacity.

Despite holding the position of Deputy Chief Executive (Engineering & Operations), critics say he failed to add any new megawatts of power to the national grid and instead prioritized the costly relocation of Ameri power units from Aboadze to Kumasi—a move widely criticized as a misallocation of resources.

The NDC caucus and VRA staff also claim that Mr. Kenzo has been aggressively lobbying for the CEO position using underhand tactics, including allegedly offering substantial bribes to secure the role.

They argue that his desperation for the position suggests an attempt to cover up past misdeeds.

In light of these allegations, the NDC caucus and VRA staff are demanding that the appointing authorities halt any plans to name Mr. Kenzo as Acting Chief Executive.

Instead, they are calling for a full-scale investigation into his past decisions and actions, which they claim have resulted in financial losses for the VRA.

The statement  was jointly signed by William Agbenuawor and Abraham Tetteh.