Over 60 communities of Nalerigu/Gamabaga have no access to Electricity Supply–MP laments
The Member of Parliament for Nalerigu/Gambaga, Alhaji Baba Issifu Seidu has said over 60 communities within the Constituency are not connected to the national grid for electricity supply.
According to him, despite the national penetration of electricity supply to at about 86.24 per cent, many rural communities, including over 60 farming communities within his constituency in the North East region still not connected to the national grid.
Hon Seidu disclosed this to EXPRESSNEWSGHANA after he has dragged the Minister for Energy, Hon Mathew Opoku Prempreh to parliament over the supply of electricity in some communities.
The MP wanted to know when the government would extend the rural electrification project to some of the communities within the constituency that are currently not hooked onto the national grid.
“Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Energy when Rural Electrification Project will be extended to the following communities, (i) La-Afrum (ii) Nakpanbon (iii) Lebzinga (iv) Gbirinzeri (v) Tambona (vi) Dintigi (vii) Namori (viii) Dabar,” Hon Seidu asked.
Answering the question, the sector Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempreh said the communities do not form part of the government current rural electrification project.
According to him, the Ministery has taken notices of the communities and would be considered for connection to the National Electricity Grid in subsequent phases of the electrification programme.
Nonetheless, Hon Seidu said, the absence of electricity in the communities is not only denying the residents the entitlement to enjoy lights like others in parts of the country, but also affecting economic activities.
He said the supply of power would help boost the local economy, as many traders would have the opportunity to trade into the evening, more cold stores and drinking spots operate competitively.
In addition to that, the MP said the supply of electricity would improve the standard of education as schools and students would have a chance to study at night which in his considered view would alternately improve students and pupil performance.
Hon Seidu said, besides the direct benefits of electricity to the residents, the government would also rake in revenue out of the local economic boom and other activities.
Further, he noted the security situation in the communities would be improved as the result of the lightening of the communities to ward off suspecting criminals who hide in darkness to launch their activities on residents in the night.
While vowing to pursue the project with intensified lobbies to the government for the rural electrification project is extended to the communities, the MP urged the residents to remain peaceful co-existent.
He said the effort he is making to ensure that they receive their fair share of the national development cake would become useless if there is no peace among the constituents.
He further reaffirmed his commitment to work hard to bring the needed development to the entire constituency to justify the confidence reposed on him in December 2022, elections.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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