Expedite Action on Rural Electrification Projects to Boost local Business - Amenfi East MP urges Minister

The Member of Parliament for Amenfi East Constituency in the Western Region, Hon Nicholas Amankwah has called on the government through the Ministry of Energy to expedite action on uncompleted rural electrification projects in the constituency to boost local businesses.

According to him, the absence of electricity is affecting local business thereby increasing the number of youth unemployment in the Constituency.

Hon Amankwah made the call when he posed a question to the Minister for Energy in Parliament on Thursday, March 9,2023.

” Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for
Energy when the stalled Rural Electrification Projects (SHEP) in the
following communities in Amenfi East constituency will be
completed: (i) Abeneso (ii) Scici – Awiam (iii) Elthiopria – Forest (iv) Togi (v) KTK (vi) Camp – opv (vii) Asomdwe (viii) magocise
(ix) Nyame-Tecise (x) Beposo-ChiefKrom (xi) Kuciaw (xii)
Krofrom.?

In response, the sector Minister, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempreh said the communities namely Abeneso, Saa-Anwiam (Scici-Anwiam) Medy.
Ethiopia Forest, Todzi (Togi), Kwao Tawiakrom (KTK), Oppong &
Valley Camp (Camp-OPV), Asomdwoe, Mangoase (Magcise),
Nyamebekyere (Nyame-Tecise), Chiefkrom (Beposo-Chiefkrom) lemy.
and Krofofrom formed part of the Ministry’s ongoing Self-Help
Electrification Programme (SHEP) in the Amenfi East District.

He said 276 no. required High Tension (HT) poles for the communities have been supplied to site but are yet to be planted.

In addition, the Minister said 650 no. Low Tension (LT) poles required for the communities have also been supplied with 561 no. planted at site.

However the Minister that the delayed in the execution of the project in the communities was as a result of the shortage of some key materials/equipment including, conductors, transformers and some pole-top accessories.

The Ministry, Dr Prempreh noted is taking delivery of some of
these materials/equipment and is arranging for the release of same
for installation works to resume at site.

“The Ministry of Energy expects to complete the installation works
in the above-mentioned communities by the end of December 2023.

“Kusciaw community however does not form part of any of the
Ministry’s electrification projects.The community has been noted and would be considered for subsequent phases of the electrification
project,”he told parliament.

But Hon Amankwa told EXPRESSNEWSGHANA, the delay in completing the project is affecting businesses as locals who engage in brisk business and sells at night could not operate.
He added that, school children in the communities are equally denied the opportunity to study at at as compare to their colleagues in others places with lights.

” My people are in need of the electrcity connectivity to improve upon their businesses. People who are into cold stores, drinking spots, among others businesses are idle.

” School children cannot study at night . They cannot do their homeworks and all these will greatly affect the development of these communities,” the MP lamented.