The Volta Regional Coordinating Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, has launched the Big Push Electrification Project to extend electricity to underserved communities across the region.
The initiative, being implemented under the Rural Electricity Acceleration and Urban Intensification Initiative (REIP), is expected to connect 206 communities across all 18 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Volta Region.
The project is estimated to cost about GH¢598 million and is expected to be completed within six months.
Launching the project during a sensitisation programme in Ho, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition and MP for Yapei/Kusawgu, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, said the initiative forms part of government’s broader plan to achieve universal access to electricity.
He explained that government had opted to mobilise domestic resources to finance the electrification programme rather than depend on external funding.
According to him, the first phase will cover the Volta, Oti, Central and Savannah regions, with the government targeting nationwide coverage by 2030 or earlier.
Dr Jinapor said the Volta Region would receive additional attention because of persistent challenges including unstable power supply, low voltage and frequent outages.
He announced plans to construct a new 161-kilovolt transmission line from Asiekuma to Ho, together with a 161/330/34.5-kilovolt bulk supply point in Ho.
The infrastructure, he said, would increase transmission capacity and facilitate the delivery of power from the Akosombo power enclave to Ho, improving the stability and reliability of electricity in the region.
The Energy Minister said the transmission project was expected to improve voltage levels and reduce power interruptions, with completion targeted within the next 12 months.
He also disclosed plans to strengthen electricity supply along the Eastern Corridor, including the stretch from Kpando to Salaga. The intervention could involve the construction of a new 330-kilovolt transmission line or the expansion of the existing 161-kilovolt network with additional bulk supply points.
As part of efforts to improve lighting in the regional capital, Dr Jinapor announced plans to install solar-powered streetlights across Ho.
He further disclosed that government had begun deploying 2,000 distribution transformers across the country after an assessment identified about 600 transformers as obsolete, damaged or no longer fit for use.
He expressed confidence that the additional transformers would help address some of the challenges at the distribution level.
On complaints of alleged overbilling by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Dr Jinapor directed the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Energy Commission to conduct an independent investigation.
He said ECG could not be allowed to investigate allegations made against itself, stressing the need for an impartial and transparent process.
The Minister assured consumers that customers found to have been wrongly billed or affected by faulty meters would receive the appropriate credits.
Dr Jinapor also acknowledged the contribution of the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, particularly his role in the establishment and operation of the Asogli Power Plant, which he said had contributed significantly to Ghana’s electricity supply.
He appealed to traditional authorities, assemblies and beneficiary communities to support the project by facilitating access to sites, protecting project materials and helping resolve right-of-way challenges.
He further urged residents to refrain from vandalising electricity infrastructure and engaging in illegal connections, while encouraging consumers to pay their electricity bills and report suspected billing irregularities through the appropriate channels.
Dr Jinapor said the success of the electrification programme would require cooperation among government, contractors, traditional authorities and beneficiary communities.
For his part, Volta Regional Minister James Gunu said reliable electricity was essential to the development of the Volta Economic Corridor and the region’s efforts to attract investment and create jobs.
He said dependable power would help lower production costs for agriculture and manufacturing, promote value addition, attract green investments and enhance the region’s competitiveness.
Mr Gunu described the Volta Region as one of Ghana’s promising investment destinations and said improved electricity supply would provide the foundation for transforming the region from a resource-based economy into a value-added and export-oriented economy.
He commended the Energy Minister for the interventions and expressed optimism that the projects would support the development of green industries and create sustainable employment opportunities.
Speaking on behalf of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the Paramount Chief of the Kpando Traditional Area, Akpinifia Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu IX, expressed appreciation to government for the interventions.
He, however, appealed to government to continue prioritising the Volta Region in the allocation of national development projects and resources.
The chief pledged the full support of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs for government projects and policies aimed at promoting development in the region.
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