Complete Rural Electrification projects to boost local economy- MP for Kpandai Urged Govt
The Member of Parliament for Kpandai in the Northern Region, Hon Daniel Nsala Wakpal has called on the government through the Ministry of Energy to complete all abandoned Rural Electrification Projects in the Constituency to boost the local economy.
According to him, several communities within the Kpandai Constituency that were to benefit from the Rural Electrification project under the Self Help Electrification Project (SHEP) have been abandoned and the electrical poles that were dumped onsite at the peak of the elections have been left.
A situation, Hon Nsala believed derailing the progress of development as the local economy became stagnant and the education system continued to record poor performance in the rural communities due to the absence of electricity lights for school children to study at night after school.
Hon Nsala revealed this to EXPRESSNEWSGHANA after he dragged the Minister of Energy to parliament over abandoned electrification projects in the constituency.
The MP who is a member of the Environment, Science and Technology and House Committee of Parliament wanted to know from the Ministry when electricity would be extended to the communities.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Energy when electricity will be extended to the following places Kpandai township, Kokonaji, Allahsuna, St Kizito Primary, Kpandai New Town, Dubun road and Polyclinic areas,” Hon Nsala quizzed the Minister.
In response, a Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon William Owuraku Aidoo on behalf of the substantive Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempreh said the prospective communities namely, Kpandai township extension (Kokomba Chief Palace, Kpansec Camp & Baduli), Allahsuna (behind Lorry Station), Kokonaji, Kpandai New Town (Zongo) and Polyclinic area form part of the Ministry of Energy’s ongoing SHEP-4 Rural Electrification Project in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region.
According to him, a total of 60 High Voltage (HV) poles required for the communities have been supplied to sites, adding that, most of the required pole-top materials have been supplied with 34 no. of the supplied poles, planted and dressed as well as Transformers been installed and energized at Kpandai township extension (Baduli) and Polyclinic area.
He said, “349 out of 610 Low Voltage (LV) poles required for the project have been supplied and planted at the Kpandai township extension (Kokomba Chief Palace, Kpansec Camp & Baduli), Kokonaji, Kpandai New Town (Zongo) and Polyclinic area. Pole-top accessories required for the communities have been supplied to the site. Stringing is ongoing at Kpandai township extension.”
Mr. Aidoo explained that the delays in the execution of the electrification project in the affected communities are a result of the shortage of some key materials/equipment including stay wooden blocks, meters, and conductors.
He said the Ministry is expecting deliveries of some materials/equipment and will arrange for the release of same for Installation works to resume at site.
The remaining communities namely, thus St. Kizito Primary and Dubun road, the Deputy Minister said “do not form part of any of the Ministry’s ongoing electrification projects. The communities have been noted and will be considered for connection to the National Electricity Grid in subsequent phases of the electrification program.”
He assured that the Ministry of Energy is working and it expects to complete the ongoing installation works in the above-mentioned communities by the first Quarter, of 2023.
But Hon Nsala said the absence of power supply to the communities is affecting the local economy and health issues.
He noted that, despite the national penetration of electricity supply at about 86.24 per cent, many rural communities, including the over eight farming communities within his constituency still not connected to the national grid.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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