The Ministry of Energy has launched the National Electrification Project in the Northern, North East and Savannah regions to connect about 16,000 households in 174 communities to the national grid. The project is an entirely government of Ghana funded program and expected to be completed within 24 months.
Deputy Minister of Energy in charge of Power, Mr. William Owuraku Aidoo at the launch in Tamale Wednesday, 16 September, 2020 disclosed the entire cost of the electrification project is estimated at US$50 million dollars.
According to the Deputy Energy Minister, government, in its effort to providing support to Ghanaian local companies has signed a Contract Agreement with M/S Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited (TCCL) for the execution of this very electrification project.
He added as part of the project implementation, locally manufactured electrical materials such as conductors, energy meters, transformers, wood poles among others are expected to be sourced within Ghana.
He said the Akufo-Addo administration recognizes that access to reliable and affordable energy services is crucial to the realization of its strategies for accelerated growth and poverty reduction in the country.
He explained the energy development agenda is focused on widening the access of energy to all households, productive sectors and social infrastructure, in order to facilitate the implementation of the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which is a Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-based poverty reduction strategy for Ghana.
The Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre South maintains the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is to provide reliable supply of energy in all its useable forms to all Ghanaian homes and businesses.
The Deputy Minister noted Energy Ministry is making effort to increase the access rate 70.21 percent in the northern region to meet the national average of 85.17 percent, adding in view of this, are two different electrification project packages are being executed in the Northern region.
The packages are the electrification works under the Hunan Construction Group Corporation and the Ministry of Energy’s Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP-4 & SHEP-5).
However, he urged the Chiefs and traditional leaders in the beneficiary communities to collaborate with the contractors for the timely execution of the project.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Minister, Hon Salifu Sa-eed for his part thanked the Energy Ministry and government on behalf of the Chiefs and people of the region.
He said the initiative is another dividend of the existing peace in the area and challenged the people to remain resolute and keep faith President Nana Akufo-Addo and retain his government in power come 7 December.
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) is mandated to provide direct site supervision and certify works to be executed by the contractor.
The Energy Ministry has also given the contractor will within one month to mobilize to site to commence detailed engineering survey in the various beneficiary communities.
