When will stalled rural electrification projects In Amenfi East be completed ~ Nicholas Amankwah questions Minister – Skyy Power FM

The Member of Parliament for Wassa Amenfi East Constituency in Western Region, Hon Nicholas Amankwah has demanded answers from the Minister responsible for Energy as to when some communities in his area without electricity will be connected to the national grid.

The energy minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh appeared before the August house to answer questions on rural electrification projects as a result of a number of the population in the twelve communities struggling to get access to electricity in Amenfi East constituency.

Posing questions at the sector Minister on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, 9th March 2023, the Amenfi East MP who is popularly known as Home Boy entreated the Ministry of Energy to fast-track the electricity supply to the neglected communities.

“Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Energy when the stalled Rural Electrification Projects (SHEP) in the following communities in Amenfi East constituency will be completed (I) Abeneso (ii) Saa-Anwiam (iii) Ethiopia Forest (iv) Togi (v) KTK (vi) Camp OPV (vii) Asomdwe (viii) Mangoase (ix) Nyame-Tease (x) Beposo-ChiefKrom (xi) Kumawu (xii) Krofrom, I thank you, Mr Speaker.”

Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh responding to the questions said, the affected communities form part of self-projects for the Amenfi East district and added that 276 high-tension poles for the Communities have been supplied to the site but are yet to be erected.

The minister indicated that additionally, 650 low tension poles required for the communities have been supplied with 561 planted at the site.

However, the minister reveals that the shortage of some “key materials” to complete the projects is the main reason why the halted projects continue to suffer delays.

Meanwhile, Dr Opoku Prempeh outlined assurance to give some relief to the wired MP, he told the house that his sector is taking delivery of such materials to complete the rural electrification projects and it’s expected to be commissioned by the end of 2023 this year.

In the case of Kumawu, the minister declared that the community was omitted from the rural electrification program, but, he admitted to note for subsequent phases for completion.

In his follow-up question to the minister’s response, the Amenfi East MP probed further that, the aforementioned projects have been in the mercies of the rain and scotch since 2016 without being attended to, therefore, the minister must come clean with a solid backing on why the projects continue to be abandoned.

In his final response, the sector Minister reemphasize that the challenges beforehand have to do with a shortage of key materials such as transformers, metering systems and other electrical equipment which the ministry is working to address.

To end this, Mathew Opoku Prempeh assured the MP and the House of the ministry’s readiness to marshal efforts and attention to complete the projects as scheduled to provide electricity for his constituents in the shortest possible time

Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari