Staff Assault in Tamale tied to disgruntled NEDCo Director – VRA NEC alleges

Fresh details have emerged suggesting that the recent violent attack on staff of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) in Tamale may have been fuelled by internal tensions within the company, following the reassignment of a senior official.

According to documents and sources available to this portal, the incident—widely condemned as unprovoked and unwarranted—was allegedly instigated by Mr. Martin Sulemana, former Director of Human Resources at NEDCo. On July 11, 2025, Mr. Sulemana was reassigned to serve as Director for Corporate Strategy and Business Development, while Ing. Noble Dormenu was also moved to head the Engineering Services Department.

Sources say Mr. Sulemana was displeased with the decision and subsequently petitioned the Overlord of Dagbon and other traditional leaders in the region, requesting their intervention. His actions prompted the Acting Managing Director of NEDCo, Ing. John Okine Yamoa, to meet with the chiefs to clarify the rationale behind the reassignments.

Although management reportedly explained the move thoroughly, Mr. Sulemana is said to have remained unsatisfied. The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has accused him of escalating tensions by leaking his reassignment letter to social media and some media houses, including Zaa TV, to gain public sympathy.

In a statement, NEC claimed Mr. Sulemana justified his opposition by citing his record of appointing 37 Dagombas during his tenure as HR Director—a move he alleges the acting MD disapproved of. NEC, however, maintained that such reassignments are a normal part of the company’s operations and cited previous examples involving senior staff who were transferred to various strategic roles within the broader VRA structure.

The group strongly condemned the assault on NEDCo personnel and called for the immediate arrest of those involved. They also demanded the return of three NEDCo vehicles currently parked at the Gulkpenaa Palace and urged Mr. Sulemana to respect the authority of management.

In addition, NEC is calling on the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, to intervene and help restore calm and harmony within the organisation.