The exercise has become necessary as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has signed a power purchase agreement with AKSA with the purpose of stabilizing and enhancing reliable power supply to the middle belt of Ghana.

For years, the Ashanti region and the middle belt of the country have experienced unreliable power supply and low voltage.

Experts say the power generated in Accra mostly loses its potency by the time it gets to the middle belt. The impact of this on businesses and individuals has been non-discriminatory and brutal.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has since complained about the resurgence of regular power outages within the region.

According to him, the situation has resulted in damage to some of his gadgets.

To remedy the situation, ECG entered into an agreement with AKSA Energy Company Limited to construct a power plant.

Speaking about the demolition exercise, the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh said people are aware they are not supposed to raise structures near high-tension cables because doing so could be disastrous to the public.

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“Everybody got to know that – don’t construct structures near high tension cables because it can have an effect on the whole public good that we are enjoying,” he said.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh therefore, assured the ECG and GRIDCo of his support in doing whatever is necessary in ensuring a reliable power supply to the region.

The signing ceremony took place on 18^th October 2022 at the head office of the Bank in Lome, Togolese Republic.

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, signed on behalf of Bank while the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDco, Ing. Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi, signed on behalf of GRIDco.

The facility’s purpose is to finance the installation and upgrading of transmission lines in the Republic of Ghana.

In his remarks, the President of EBID, Dr Donkor, observed that as ECOWAS Member States work towards post-COVID-19 economic recovery, regional electricity connectivity will be necessary to expand to accommodate growth.

In this regard, he emphasised the need for the expansion of electricity infrastructure in the sub-region as a key sector that must be given the necessary attention.

Dr Donkor disclosed that the Bank’s total commitment to the Republic of Ghana stood at USD 250 Million as of October 12, 2022.

He reiterated the Bank’s commitment to continue to finance infrastructure projects across all sectors of the economies of ECOWAS Member States to accelerate recovery and development for the Sub-region.

The President of EBID observed that the project was in line with the Bank’s strategic objectives and aligned perfectly with Ghana’s Agenda for Jobs II.

Taking his turn, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gridco, Amb. Kabral Blay-Amihere, said the projects to be undertaken with EBID’s facility were part of a broader plan of GRIDCo to upgrade and install infrastructure to continue to improve efficiency and increase the transmission of power within Ghana and other West African Counties such as Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote D’Ivoire.

While appreciating the confidence reposed in GRIDCo by EBID, he added that the completion of the project would lead to the strengthening and expansion of the transmission network, reducing technical losses and enhancing businesses and livelihoods in Ghana and the ECOWAS subregion.

Ambassador Blay-Ahimere commended the President of EBID and his team for their dedication and professionalism that saw the expeditious completion of the credit process and the consummation of the transaction.

Present at the ceremony were Ghana’s Ambassador to Togo, His Excellency Kofi Demetia; Executives from C-Nergy Ghana; and the Managing Director of Calbank PLC., Mr Philip Owiredu.