Complete abandoned Electricity Projects to boost Rural Economy – MP for Amenfi Central
The Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central in the Western Region, Hon Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah has called on the government through the Ministry of Energy to complete all abandoned Rural Electrification Projects in the Constituency to boost the rural economy.
According to him, several communities within the Amenfi Central 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 since 2016 have been left.
A situation, he believed derailed the progress of development as the rural economy become stagnant and the education system continued to record poor performance in the rural communities due to the absence of electric lights for school children to study after school.
Hon Kwakye-Ackah 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 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament wanted to know from the Ministry when the contractor to the electricity projects in the communities would return to work.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Energy when contractors will resume work and complete the electrification projects in the following communities in the Amenfi Central Constituency: Anobil, Dwirigom, Foleso, Ashyiam, Dankwawora, Agyedom, Asasetere, Kojo Yaw, Suponso, Nyame Dome, Nso Nyame Ye,” Hon Kwakye-Ackah, questioned the Minister.
In response, a Deputy Minister of Energy, William Owuraku Aidoo Anobil, Dwirigom, Foleso, Ashy1am, Dankwawora, Agvedom, Asasetere and Kojo Yaw communities formed part of the Ministry electrification project earmarked for execution by M/S Weldy Lamont & Associates Inc.
According to him, the project initially targeted connecting 1200 communities in all three (3) beneficiary Regions, namely; Central Western and Brong Ahafo Regions, to the national electricity grid.
He said, during the implementation of the project, however, more communities were added for connection to the grid which increased the targeted communities to 2,251, adding that, the electrification project was completed in May 2022 having connected a total of 2,127 no. communities to the national grid. Unfortunately, installation works in some 124 no. communities including the mentioned ones could not be completed as the project fund could not cover them.”
Nevertheless, the Deputy Minister said the Contractor, M/S Weldy Lamont has submitted the project completion report and a reconciliation exercise is being done to determine the scope of works outstanding in the remaining communities.
“Mr. Speaker, following the take-over of the outstanding works, the Ministry will re-package them(124 communities) for completion as part of the on-going Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP).
He said, Suponso, Nyame Dome, and Nso Nyame Ye communities, however, do not form part of any of the Ministry’s ongoing electrification programs, but have therefore been noted for consideration in future electrification programs.
The Deputy Minister assured that the government is committed to ensuring that every part of the country benefits from the national grid and would work to add the remaining communities in subsequent projects.
But Hon Kwakye-Ackah said the community needs a power supply to help reduce insecurity and boost trading activities, especially at night when residents could have the opportunity to sell into the night.
He appealed to the government through the Ministry to consider the remaining 124 communities in the 2023 budget so they could have access to electricity to boost their trades/
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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