The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has launched a turnkey electrification project to extend power to 206 communities in the 18 districts of the Volta Region.
The GH¢598 million project, being implemented by a local company, Byes and Ways, under the Rural Electrification Accelerated and Urban Intensification Initiative, is scheduled to be completed in six months.
The principal objective of the initiative is to reduce poverty, create jobs, and promote socio-economic development through improved access to power.
At a durbar in Ho last Friday, Dr Jinapor said the project would significantly improve access to power for communities currently without power and those that needed power extension.
Further, he said, the government had made colossal investments to strengthen electricity transmission and improve power supply in Ho and other parts of the region.
The sector minister said the government was also undertaking a 161KV transmission line from Asiekpe to Ho to improve voltage levels and enhance the reliability of electricity in the region.
Meanwhile, the construction of a new power substation in Ho had taken off to provide the regional capital with a dedicated power transformer and transmission lines, he announced.
“This is expected to ease pressure on the existing transformer and transmission infrastructure, and improve reliability of power supply to Ho and the surrounding communities,” Dr Jinapor explained.
The transmission and substation project being undertaken by Tilt Engineering Limited is expected to be completed in 12 months.
Dr Jinapor appealed to the beneficiary communities, traditional authorities, and members of the public to cooperate with the project contractors to ensure timely and successful completion of the work.
“The ministry will closely monitor the implementation of the projects to ensure quality, value for money, and timely completion,” Dr Jinapor pledged.
Regional Minister
The Regional Minister, James Gunu, said the power projects would provide the region with brighter prospects for investments in tourism, agriculture and industry.
The current Ho power substation
“The Volta Region has become the best investment destination in Ghana, and so, we cannot do without sustainable power,” he said.
The Okpekpewuokpe Akpinifia, Togbui Dagadu IX, who chaired the function, said the power programmes bore yet another testimony of the government’s commitment to raise the Volta Region to greater development heights.
He promised the full support of the traditional authorities in the region for the projects.
