The Overlord of the Chonke Traditional Area in Ghana's Oti Region, Dasebre Attamafuwuesi Kwame Bonja, has called on the government to address the persistent power crisis. He warned that frequent outages are severely impacting businesses and livelihoods. The unreliable electricity supply disrupts commercial activities, causing difficulties for residents who depend on power for daily work and essential activities.
According to Dasebre Bonja, power interruptions occur more than 20 times a day in some areas, damaging electrical appliances and equipment. He made the appeal during the sod-cutting ceremony for the GH¢300 million Big Push rural electrification project. The initiative aims to connect 90 communities across the nine districts and municipalities in the Oti Region to the national grid.
The Chonke Overlord stressed that existing challenges must be addressed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to ensure a reliable supply for both current and new customers. He also urged ECG to station its regional director permanently in the Oti Region to enable the company to respond quickly to power-related emergencies and improve customer service.
The Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, responded to the concerns, stating that the government would deploy an additional 2,000 distribution transformers, mini-grids, solar home systems, and solar streetlights to improve power reliability in the region. He urged residents to protect electrical infrastructure from vandalism and illegal connections.
Richard Gyan-Mensah also encouraged residents to comply with electrical safety guidelines and pay their electricity bills promptly after being connected to the national grid. The government's initiative aims to enhance power supply and support the region's economic growth.
The frequent power outages have become a significant challenge for businesses and residents in the Oti Region. The region's economy is expected to benefit from the Big Push rural electrification project, which will provide a reliable power supply to 90 communities.
The Chonke Overlord's appeal and the government's response highlight the need for collaborative efforts to address the power crisis in the Oti Region. The successful implementation of the Big Push rural electrification project and the deployment of additional power infrastructure are crucial to resolving the region's power challenges.
Key points
- The Oti Region faces frequent power outages, with interruptions occurring more than 20 times a day in some areas.
- The government plans to deploy an additional 2,000 distribution transformers, mini-grids, solar home systems, and solar streetlights to improve power reliability.
- The Big Push rural electrification project aims to connect 90 communities across the nine districts and municipalities in the Oti Region to the national grid.
