By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Dambai (O/R), Sept. 26, GNA – The Government has launched the Turnkey Electrification Project under the Rural Electricity Acceleration and Urban Intensification Initiative (REIP), with 90 communities across all nine districts of the Oti Region expected to benefit.
The project seeks to extend electricity supply to communities without access while improving and intensifying existing electricity networks to enhance reliability and support socio-economic development.
Launching the project, Mr Richard Gyan-Mensah, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition and Member of Parliament for Gomoa West Constituency, said the rural electrification and urban intensification components were designed to address different but complementary electricity needs.
He said the urban component would focus on intensifying and improving existing electricity networks, while the rural component would extend electricity to communities currently without access.
Mr Gyan-Mensah said the Ministry’s strategy was to cover all 16 regions over the next four years, with the Volta, Oti, Savannah and North East regions among those receiving attention this year.
He disclosed that the Government had released 2,000 distribution transformers for installation by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to improve electricity supply stability.
For communities located far from existing distribution networks, he said the Government was considering mini-grid systems as an alternative means of providing electricity.
The Deputy Minister also announced plans to improve community and highway lighting through solar technology, with about 23,000 solar streetlights being provided nationwide.
He said under the arrangement, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies would contribute part of the installation cost, while the Ministry would finance the remainder.
On electricity supply and voltage stability in the Oti Region, Mr Gyan-Mensah said the Government was also working on infrastructure and connectivity along the Eastern Corridor to support the broader development of the electricity network.
He mentioned planned connectivity involving Ho to Asiekpe, Kadjebi to Ho, Adobire to Salaga and Tamale to Salaga, which would be undertaken in phases.
He said the interventions would contribute to improved electricity supply and voltage stability and promote sustainable economic development in the beneficiary areas.
Mr Gyan-Mensah called on the Assemblies and traditional authorities to help protect electricity infrastructure, discourage illegal connections and safeguard the right-of-way required for the successful execution of the projects.
He also reminded consumers that while the Government was committed to extending electricity access to every community, consumers had a responsibility to pay their electricity bills, observe electrical safety precautions and conserve energy.
Mr Sulemana Abubakar, the engineer in charge of Power at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, said the project formed part of the President’s directive to ensure rural electrification across all 16 regions.
He said the Ministry was implementing the project with support from ECG and NEDCo, adding that Le-Grino had been selected to undertake the electrification works across the nine districts of the Oti Region.
The beneficiary districts are Guan, Buem, Akan, Biakoye, Nkwanta South, Nkwanta North, Krachi Nchumuru, Krachi West and Krachi East.
Mr John Kwadwo Gyapong, the Oti Regional Minister, said the project would contribute significantly to the development of the region, describing electricity as an “enabler for development and not an end.”
He said reliable electricity would create opportunities for citizens and strengthen socio-economic activities, particularly in schools, health facilities and businesses.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Government for selecting 90 communities in the Oti Region to benefit from the project, noting that the region, as the youngest in Ghana, had a strategic location and significant potential to contribute to national economic growth.
Mr Gyapong called on communities and traditional authorities to support the implementation and protection of the project, stressing that the sustainability of electricity infrastructure required collective responsibility.
He assured stakeholders that the Regional Coordinating Council was ready to collaborate with relevant institutions to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Nana Bondja Kwame II, the Overlord of Chonke, expressed appreciation to the Government for the intervention and appealed to the Ministry to ensure that electricity supply in the Oti Region remained stable and reliable to sustain the expected development.
The ceremony was attended by traditional leaders from the nine districts, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, ECG, NEDCo and other stakeholders.
Representing ECG were Mr Kojo Obeng, Deputy Managing Director, Engineering and Operations; Mr David Asamoah, Deputy Managing Director/Technical Advisor; Ms Christina Jatoe-Kaleo, Volta Regional General Manager; Mr Henry Lutterodt, General Manager, Rural Projects; Mr Jerry M. Kedze, Project Engineer, Rural Projects; and Madam Irene Mary Odame, Dambai District Manager.
The launch marks a step towards expanding electricity access in the Oti Region and providing infrastructure to support economic activity, education, healthcare and improved livelihoods in the beneficiary communities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah
Pictures Attached
26 Sept 2026