The Ghanaian government has promised to provide electricity to 90 communities in the Oti Region within six months under a rural electrification and urban intensification project. The project, launched at Dambai, is part of the government's flagship Big Push infrastructure programme. According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the announcement was made by Richard Gyan-Mensah, Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, who represented Energy Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor.
The initiative, estimated to cost GH¢300 million, has two components: extending the national grid to communities without electricity access and reinforcing existing networks in connected communities to improve supply reliability. Construction is expected to begin in October 2026 and be completed by the end of March or early April 2027. The project aims to improve education, healthcare, agro-processing, enterprise development, security, and attract investors to the region.
The Oti Region is one of the country's relatively deprived regions, requiring sustained development interventions to close infrastructure and socio-economic gaps. Oti Regional Minister John Kwadwo Gyapong said reliable electricity is crucial for the region's development. The number of communities set to benefit has been increased from 77 to 90 following additional interventions by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
Gyapong described the expansion as a positive development, enabling more households and businesses to access socio-economic opportunities. The project is part of a targeted regional approach to connecting unelectrified communities over the next four years. The Savannah, Central, and Volta Regions have also been selected for the current phase of the initiative.
Beyond the Oti electrification works, Dr Jinapor mentioned complementary measures to improve power reliability nationwide. These include deploying over 2,000 distribution transformers and an all-in-one solar street-lighting programme targeting 23,000 units nationwide this year. A scheme allowing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives to partner with the Ministry to install streetlights in their communities is also planned.
The Chonke Overlord, Daasebre Bonja Kwame Atamafowiese II, welcomed the project but highlighted persistent low-voltage problems affecting parts of the region. He appealed to the Ministry to address the issue, which is hurting businesses and livelihoods. The Ministry's 2026–2029 sector plan will guide further rollouts, though no additional dates for other regions have been specified.
The project's completion is expected to unlock the economic potential of the Oti Region. According to the sources, construction will start in October 2026 and finish by the end of March or early April 2027, within the six-month window set by the government.
Key points
- The project is estimated to cost GH¢300 million and will benefit 90 communities in the Oti Region.
- The project aims to improve education, healthcare, agro-processing, enterprise development, security, and attract investors to the region.
- The Ministry's 2026–2029 sector plan will guide further rollouts of the electrification project.
