The Volta River Authority (VRA) has firmly denied reports claiming that a helicopter which recently made an emergency landing in Nkawkaw, Eastern Region of Ghana, belongs to the state-owned power company. The incident, which caused a stir among residents and generated widespread discussion on social media, took place at Adwafo, a community near Nkawkaw, earlier this week.
In a statement signed by the VRA’s Director of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Surveyor David Adomako Mensah, the Authority described the claims in the media as “false and misleading.” The VRA stressed that it neither owns nor operates any helicopters or aviation services.
“We would like to state clearly that the said helicopter does not belong to VRA and neither does VRA operate aviation services,” the statement read. “Our mandate is to provide affordable and reliable electricity to power economies and improve lives. This mandate does not include aviation operations.”
The VRA explained that initial investigations show the aircraft is owned by Volta River Aviation Limited (VRAL), a private company registered with Ghana’s Petroleum Commission. According to the Authority, VRAL operates independently from VRA despite the similarity in their names, which might have caused confusion among members of the public and the media.
Eyewitnesses in Adwafo reported that the helicopter landed unexpectedly in an open area after what was believed to be a technical fault. No injuries were recorded, and the pilots reportedly handled the situation professionally before local authorities arrived at the scene. However, the sudden landing attracted a large crowd of onlookers, many of whom took pictures and videos that later went viral online.
Following the incident, several news outlets and social media users claimed the helicopter was part of the VRA’s operations. The power producer says such reports are damaging, not only to its image but also to public trust. It called on journalists to carry out proper fact-checking before publishing such sensitive stories.
“The media is advised to make the necessary enquiries with VRA Corporate Affairs and External Relations Department for accurate information before such publications are made,” the statement concluded.
Observers say the confusion highlights a wider issue in Ghana’s corporate and public communication environment — the tendency for misinformation to spread quickly, especially when there is a similarity in company names. In this case, both “Volta River Authority” and “Volta River Aviation Limited” share the “Volta River” branding, but they operate in entirely different industries.
The Volta River Authority remains one of Ghana’s most important public institutions, responsible for generating and supplying electricity to the country and some neighbouring nations. It operates major hydroelectric facilities, including the Akosombo Dam, and plays a key role in the nation’s energy sector. The Authority reiterated that it has no involvement in aviation or petroleum logistics and is focused solely on its core energy responsibilities.
Residents of Nkawkaw told local journalists they were initially alarmed when they saw the helicopter descending unexpectedly but felt relieved when they realised it was an emergency precaution rather than a crash. Some community members expressed curiosity about whether the aircraft’s presence was linked to energy projects in the Eastern Region, further fuelling the speculation.
With this clarification from the VRA, it is now clear the emergency landing was a private aviation matter and not connected to Ghana’s state electricity operations. The Petroleum Commission is expected to receive a full report from Volta River Aviation Limited on the incident in the coming days, including details of what led to the emergency landing.
The situation serves as a reminder of the importance of clear communication and fact-checking in news reporting, especially when dealing with public institutions whose names and reputations can be easily misrepresented.
