The Senior Staff Association (SSA) and the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Volta River Authority (VRA) have expressed strong opposition to the reported appointment of R.A. Abdul Jalil as the Director of Public Affairs. Apexnewsgh reports
In a press release issued on Tuesday, March 19, 2025, the staff unions condemned the move, describing it as irregular and a violation of the VRA Act 46, as well as the authority’s recruitment policies and procedures.
According to the unions, Abdul Jalil’s appointment undermines the established recruitment protocols, which emphasize merit-based selection for managerial and directorate positions.
They argued that such positions should be filled through a competitive process to maintain professional standards, rather than being subject to political appointments or directives from the Office of the President.
The staff unions outlined several reasons for rejecting the appointment, including:
Violation of Recruitment Policies:
The appointment contravenes the VRA’s recruitment policies and procedures.
Breach of Conditions of Service: The appointment violates the Senior Staff Conditions of Service and the Collective Agreement between VRA management and the PSWU.
Disregard for Experienced Staff: The appointment undermines long-serving VRA professionals who have built expertise and institutional knowledge over the years.
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.
They also called on the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to intervene and withdraw the appointment to prevent further industrial unrest within the authority.
The SSA and PSWU warned that they would take all legitimate steps to resist what they see as political interference in VRA’s affairs, vowing to protect the institution’s integrity and ensure that recruitment remains free from political influence.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
