The leadership of the Senior Staff Association (SSA) and the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Volta River Authority (VRA) have strongly opposed the purported appointment of R.A. Abdul Jalil as the Director of Public Affairs for the VRA.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the staff unions expressed their “profound revulsion and objection” to the reported appointment of Abdul Jalil, who is known as the Savannah Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
They described the move as irregular and a violation of the VRA Act 46, as well as the authority’s recruitment policies and procedures.
The staff unions outlined several reasons for rejecting the appointment, highlighting what they termed as a blatant disregard for established recruitment protocols.
Violation of Recruitment Policies – According to the unions, managerial and directorate positions within the VRA are not subject to political appointments or directives from the Office of the President. They stressed that such positions are filled through a competitive, merit-based process to maintain professional standards.
Breach of Conditions of Service – The statement indicated that the appointment contravenes the Senior Staff Conditions of Service and the Collective Agreement between VRA management and the PSWU of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Disregard for Experienced Staff – The unions argued that the appointment undermines long-serving VRA professionals who have built expertise and institutional knowledge over the years. They warned that such actions could demotivate staff, lower productivity, and disrupt career progression and succession planning within the organization.
The unions urged the Acting Chief Executive of VRA to resist any pressure to implement the appointment and demanded that Abdul Jalil, if qualified, go through the normal recruitment process and compete fairly when a vacancy arises.
Additionally, they called on the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to intervene and withdraw the appointment to prevent further industrial unrest within the authority.
“The role of Public Affairs or Corporate Communications in an institution like VRA requires expertise, competency, experience, and a deep understanding of the energy sector, not just political communication or a reward for political loyalty,” the statement read.
The SSA and PSWU warned that they would take all legitimate steps to resist what they see as political interference in VRA’s affairs. They vowed to protect the institution’s integrity, ensuring that recruitment remains free from political influence below the level of the governing board.
The unions also appealed to past VRA executives, management staff, and professional associations to support their cause in upholding the authority’s professionalism and independence.
