Reset Agenda Faces Crucial Test as Storm Brews Over VRA Leadership

President John Dramani Mahama’s much-anticipated Reset Ghana agenda has hit its first major hurdle at the Volta River Authority (VRA), where growing calls for the removal of Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, the caretaker Chief Executive, threaten to ignite a major political and institutional showdown.

Appointed shortly after Mahama’s return to office, Kenzo’s leadership is now under intense scrutiny from a coalition of senior VRA staff, internal stakeholders, and prominent figures within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Allegations against him range from deep-seated political bias and procurement irregularities to autocratic leadership and mismanagement. Detractors argue that retaining Kenzo could undermine the very principles on which the Reset agenda was founded—transparency, accountability, and institutional renewal.

Leading the charge is the New Voter Forum (NVF), an advocacy group with strong ties to the NDC. The NVF warns that Kenzo’s continued stay in office is demoralising to the party’s grassroots, endangers the Reset promise, and puts Ghana’s energy security at risk. The group and other insiders allege that Kenzo is closely aligned with the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration and was central to several controversial decisions while serving in senior management at the VRA.

Chief among the allegations is a US$52 million sole-sourcing procurement scandal dating back to 2022, which allegedly implicates both Kenzo and former CEO Ing. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa. Documents reportedly show a pattern of procurement breaches, inflated contracts, and questionable vendor relationships. Contracts involving IDC Energy Ltd, Fosap Logistics, and Synho Hydro are said to be under particular scrutiny.

Examples cited include the procurement of a steam turbine rotor bearing at seven times its market value and the advance purchase of a condenser a decade ahead of projected need. Staff also question the dramatic cost escalation of the T3 Repowering Project in Takoradi—from under US$15 million to nearly US$70 million. A separate US$19 million contract to Synho Hydro for base repairs at Akosombo and capital spares for the Kpong Thermal Power Station is also being challenged over alleged overpricing.

“These are not isolated incidents,” one senior staff member told ExpressNewsGhana. “They suggest systemic abuse of procurement processes and a failure of oversight. If Kenzo remains, how can we guarantee a transparent investigation?”

Beyond procurement, Kenzo’s management style has also come under fire. Staff describe an atmosphere of fear and favouritism, where meritocracy is sidelined and critical decisions are taken without adequate technical consultation. His critics argue that despite his lengthy tenure under the NPP-led administration, Kenzo failed to deliver any substantial power generation projects. The controversial US$32 million relocation of Ameri units from Aboadze to Kumasi is cited as his only notable achievement—one critics say was poorly executed and unnecessary.

The issue has assumed a political dimension, with growing resentment among NDC foot soldiers and party operatives who see Kenzo as a partisan figure. Allegations have surfaced that he actively campaigned for the NPP in 2020 and again in 2024, filled strategic VRA positions with NPP loyalists in the final days of the Akufo-Addo administration, and has since attempted to curry favour with the NDC in a bid to secure confirmation as substantive CEO.

“He’s trying to switch jerseys now that the winds have changed,” said an NDC regional organiser. “But we know where his loyalty lies. He’s not someone we can trust to lead a key national institution under a Mahama government.”

For the Mahama administration, the standoff presents a critical test of its Reset credentials. The President came to office promising to root out political patronage, restore professionalism, and safeguard public institutions. Critics say allowing Kenzo to remain would be a betrayal of that vision and could disillusion the party base early in the new administration’s tenure.

There is growing pressure on the presidency to act decisively. Civil society groups, energy experts, and party insiders are demanding Kenzo’s immediate removal and the appointment of a neutral, technically competent interim CEO. They are also calling for a full forensic audit of VRA’s operations and finances between 2019 and 2025, with a focus on procurement processes, contract management, and the controversial Ameri relocation deal.

Reform proposals have also been tabled. Stakeholders want the VRA board restructured to include professionals with technical, legal, and financial expertise, rather than political appointees. They are urging the implementation of digital procurement platforms, contract transparency dashboards, and quarterly disclosures to boost public confidence. Some have proposed a national energy integrity pact involving civil society and private sector players to safeguard state utilities from political manipulation.

For now, Kenzo remains silent. But pressure is mounting for him to respond publicly to a growing list of questions: What was his role in the US$52 million deal? Why was there no adequate warning before the 2023 Akosombo spillage? What caused the ballooning costs of the T3 project? Did he engage in politically motivated recruitment or inducements to secure his role?

As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the Presidency. The VRA remains one of Ghana’s most vital national assets, and the implications of this leadership impasse are significant—not only for the energy sector but for the broader credibility of the Reset agenda.

President Mahama’s next move could determine whether his administration retains public trust or loses momentum at the first major crossroads. The choice is stark: act boldly and reform the VRA, or risk watching the Reset promise falter under the weight of controversy.