On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, staff from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) were violently attacked in Tamale by angry youth protesting a management reassignment.
The attack reportedly stemmed from the reassignment of a Director from Human Resources to Corporate Strategy, which some locals viewed as a demotion motivated by ethnic bias.
Several staff members were severely assaulted, and three official vehicles were forcefully taken to the Gukpe Naa’s Palace, according to the VRA Senior Staff Association.
The reassigned Director is said to have appealed to local chiefs, including Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, alleging tribal discrimination and claiming credit for hiring over 37 Dagombas.
In response, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the staff union condemned the attack and denied the Director’s claims, stressing that such reassignments are routine corporate decisions.
They also decried the leaking of internal documents to the media, warning that politicizing and tribalizing administrative matters could undermine governance at NEDCo.
Despite a formal police complaint, no arrests have been made, prompting VRA/NEDCo staff in Tamale to withdraw their services for safety reasons.
The union issued three demands: arrest of the attackers, retrieval of seized vehicles, and non-interference in the reassignment process.
They have called on Energy Minister John Jinapor to ensure staff safety and uphold managerial decisions, warning of further action if justice is delayed.
The situation has raised serious concerns about interference in corporate governance and the growing threat of violence against utility staff in northern Ghana.