Towns in Ashanti, Northern Regions to enjoy electricity

Afram Plains, Kpando grateful to President - MP

Accra (Greater Accra), 18 February 2000

A number of towns in the Ashanti and Northern Regions are expected to be connected to the national elecricity grid in the second quarter of this year, under the third phase of the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP-3).

Dr John Abu, Minister of Mines and Energy, announced this in Parliament on Thursday, and said other towns in the two regions would be considered under the SHEP-4 programme, which is planned to begin in 2002.

Dr Abu, who was answering questions pertaining to his sector, had been asked when a number of towns in the Adansi West of the Ashanti Region, and some communities in Savelugu in the Northern Region, would be connected to the grid.

The towns to benefit under SHEP-3 are Medoma, Adadwin, Adumanu and Ahinsan in the Adansi West constituency and Mogula, Taripah and Kadia in the Savelugu constituency.

Those to be considered under SHEP-4 are Dadwen and Kyekyewere in Adansi West and Duko, Kanshiegu, Kpong, Pigu, Kokobilla, Sugu-lampia and Nakpanzou in Savelugu.

On what efforts the Ministry is making to address the frequent power outages in some towns in the Amenfi West constituency, Dr Abu said contract has already been awarded to clear the bush and trees, which obstruct the electricity lines, thus causing the power cuts.

He said the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has identified the bridging of the lines by trees as the cause of the outages, and expressed the hope that when the bush is completely cleared, electricity supply in those areas would be stabilised.

Asked when work will begin on the electrification project at Samereboi and surrounding towns in the Western Region, the Minister explained that the project is European Union-funded and contract for its execution would be awarded after the tender process.

On the completion of electrification project at Derma in the Brong Ahafo Region, Dr Abu said the project was executed under SHEP-3 phase one in 1998.

He said the ECG has released additional materials for customers, who delayed in applying for service connection.

GRi

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Accra (Greater Accra), 18 February 2000

The people of the Afram Plains and Kpando Districts on Thursday, expressed their gratitude to President Jerry John Rawlings for honouring his promise to provide a ferry service between the two districts.

Mr. Krosbi-Mensah, Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, announced this in a statement in Parliament on Thursday.

He noted that on January 27, the President commissioned a ferry "M.V. Fourth Republic", to provide safe and reliable lake transport between Amankwaa Tornu in the Plains and Kpando Torko in the Volta Region.

He said the operation of the ferry has made movement of people and agricultural produce on the Volta Lake to and from the two districts very safe and efficient, adding that the initiative shows the commitment of the President and the government to the welfare of the people.

Mr. Krosbi-Mensah recalled a boat disaster in April 1995 between Kpando Torko and Amakwaa Tornu and said the lake accident threw the two districts into a state of mourning as many lives and property, worth more than 200 million cedis, were lost.

He said President Rawlings, who was among the sympathisers that gathered at Amankwaa Tornu to mourn with the bereaved families, promised a pontoon service between the two districts to forestall any such fatal disaster in future.

That promise was fulfiled when the "M.V Fourth Republic" was commissioned.

He commended the Volta River Authority (VRA) for its role in the provision of the ferry.

Commenting on the statement, Mr. Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, said the ferry service has provided a big relief to his constituents, who had been complaining about the hardship they endured while travelling on the Volta Lake between Amakwaa Tornu and Kpando Torko.

He expressed the hope that with the introduction of the ferry service, accidents on the lake would be greatly minimised, if not eliminated.

He urged the boat operators to desist from overloading the ferry, noting that the practice has been a major cause of accidents on the lake.

Mr. Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains South, commended the VRA for living up to expection in the provision of electricity, roads and a mobile clinic in the area, as well as developing the lake as a source of fish production.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akyem North, called on the authorities to consider the Ashanti portion of the Afram Plains, when it comes to the provision of facilties such as the ferry service.

Mr Modestus Ahiable urged the operators of the ferry to maintain high safety standards to prevent any avoidable disaster on the Lake.

GRi

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