- VRA/NEDCo staff in Northern Area halt fieldwork over assault incident
- Staff were attacked and official vehicles seized in Tamale on July 30
- Four key demands made, including prosecution and vehicle recovery
The leadership of VRA/NEDCo staff in the Northern Area has announced the immediate suspension of all field operations within the Tamale Metropolis and surrounding areas.
The move comes in response to the assault of several staff members on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, by a group of youth in Tamale.
According to the staff, the attack occurred when VRA/NEDCo personnel—driving official vehicles—were forcibly stopped, dragged out, and beaten with clubs and sticks. The vehicles were reportedly seized and taken to the Gukpena Palace.
Following an emergency meeting held on Thursday, July 31, the staff leadership condemned the incident as “barbaric”, stating it posed a serious threat to employee safety and company property.
They also highlighted that this was the latest in a pattern of violent attacks against VRA/NEDCo staff over the years, citing examples such as:
- The 2016 assault of staff at Lamakara, despite police presence.
- The 2017 incident at Dohinayilli, where company vehicles were attacked.
- The 2015 vandalism of the VRA/NEDCo office by youth in Tamale.
- The 2019 assault of staff at Vittin, while disconnecting illegal streetlights.
In response, staff are demanding the following:
- Immediate identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.
- A formal explanation for the violent attack on staff performing their lawful duties.
- Concrete assurances of safety for all VRA/NEDCo personnel and protection of company assets.
- Retrieval of the impounded vehicles from the Gukpena Palace by security agencies.
The staff leadership emphasized that, while workers will continue reporting to the office, they will not carry out any fieldwork until their safety is fully guaranteed.
“We believe our lives are under threat, and we do not feel safe going out to work,” the statement said.
