The Chairman of the Council of Ministers (PCM) of the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), Mr Kenneth Gilbert ADJEI, Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources of the Republic of Ghana, Minister responsible for the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), received the Executive Director of the VBA, Mr Robert Yaovi DESSOUASSI, in audience in Accra on Thursday 23 April 2026, at the latter’s request.
Following the customary formalities, the Prime Minister welcomed the ABV delegation – comprising the Executive Director, Mr Robert DESSOUASSI, and the Director of Administration and Finance, Mr Jean Marie OUYA – to Ghana, and then introduced the members of his Cabinet who had been invited to the meeting.
After thanking the Prime Minister for granting him an audience, the Executive Director reiterated his warm congratulations on his recent appointment as Minister for Water in Ghana. He then explained that, for him, this courtesy visit formed part of his duty of accountability to the Chairman of the VBA Council of Ministers, by reporting to him on the current state of operations, the challenges and the major issues facing our joint institution, the VBA.
The VBA /ED thus addressed the crucial issue of organising and holding the 8th statutory session of the Council of Ministers, which has been difficult to convene due to institutional changes in several countries, including Ghana, and the geopolitical situation in several VBA member states.
To this end, he proposed the period from 5 to 9 October 2026 to the PCM (the only body authorised to convene the Council of Ministers), who accepted this, whilst asking his Chief of Staff to check her availability during the proposed period; if she were unavailable, the Council of Ministers meeting would be postponed until mid- or late October.
He also requested the Prime Minister’s support and guidance for the VBA Executive Directorate in the implementation of its basin development activities.
Finally, the Executive Director provided an update on the collection of annual financial contributions from Member States to the Institution’s operating budget.
The Minister reassured the Executive Director of his support and assistance, which are necessary to achieve the VBA’s objectives with a view to making our joint institution a driving force for sustainable development and sub-regional integration.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of gifts between the PCM and the Executive Director, as shown in the photos below:
Finally, it should be noted that, prior to this, the VBA delegation held a preparatory working session on Wednesday 22 April 2026 at the premises of the Water Resources Commission (WRC) in the run-up to the PCM hearing, with Dr Mawuli Lumor, Acting Executive Secretary of the WRC, Coordinator of the VBA National Focal Point in Ghana, and some of his close colleagues.
This meeting provided an opportunity to brief and update the VBA NFS Coordinator on the challenges, key issues and, above all, the expectations of the Executive Board. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with a greater understanding of the VBA.
