MP for Sissala East Demands Power Supply to over 17 Communities to Boost Local Economy
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala East, Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, has launched a passionate plea to the government to end a two-decade-long blackout for over 17 communities in his constituency.
Posing a question in Parliament, Hon. Bataglia called upon the Minister for Energy and Green Transition to provide a concrete timeline for extending the national grid to deprived areas including Santijan, Gbenabisi, Kalaxy, Nahadakui, Kapunjan, Tanla, Nitalu, Kwapung, Wuru, and Dinduarijan Katinia.
Despite the constituency first being connected to the national grid in 1992, these specific communities have remained in darkness for over 20 years.
In response to the MP’s inquiry, the Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Richard Mensah Gyan, assured the House that plans are underway to procure funds for further electrification.
He promised that the Sissala East communities would receive their fair share of the national grid expansion.
A Cry for Justice: “No Lights, No Vote”
Speaking to EXPRESSNEWSGHANA after proceedings, the MP highlighted the growing frustration among his constituents.
He noted that prior to the 2024 elections, residents in Santijan expressed their desperation by erecting a signpost with the blunt warning: “No Lights, No Vote.”
“I agree with them,” Hon. Bataglia stated. “It sounds like an inhumane act for us to keep such people under such conditions. They deserve to have their bulbs on, and I am focused on making sure we better the lives of the people we represent.”
The MP argued that electricity is not a luxury but a vital tool for the survival of these predominantly farming communities.
He pointed out that the lack of power cripples the local economy and hampers essential services.
Without electricity, farmers cannot access local welding or mechanical services for their tractors, forcing them to travel long distances for simple repairs.
Furthermore, power would allow women to engage in small-scale businesses, such as selling cold water and local drinks like fora, which supports family incomes and keeps children in school.
Security and Infrastructure Concerns
Beyond the economic impact, Hon. Bataglia warned that “dark communities” are breeding grounds for insecurity, especially given the constituency’s proximity to the border with Burkina Faso.
He emphasized that having the youth sitting idly due to a lack of opportunity is not only an economic concern but a national security threat.
The MP also used the opportunity to highlight the dire state of roads in what he described as the “food basket” of Ghana.
While he commended the government for work on the Tumu-Bolgatanga road, he stressed that internal bridges remain a disaster.
A lack of a bridge at the Bele and Dru stretch has left thousands of acres of arable land inaccessible.
In communities like Wuru, the roads are so poor that residents struggle to access healthcare.
Hon. Bataglia lamented that when someone is sick in these areas, they feel they must pronounce themselves dead because accessing the nearest facility is such a challenge.
Hon. Bataglia remains cautiously optimistic, noting that he filed the official request in July of last year and continues to push the Ministry and the Director of Power for immediate action.
He expressed the hope that government would revive the trust of the disgruntled constituents who have long felt abandoned.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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