As part of efforts to promote the “Better Ghana Agenda” idea, the Ministry of Energy today held a press briefing on the theme “Energy for Growth: Vision and Agenda” in Accra.

This is to update the public on what the Ministry has been able to do to ensure that the National milestone of the energy sector is met to enhance economic growth.

Addressing the media, the Minister for Energy, Dr Joe Oteng- Adjei, stated that the Government is assisting Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to finance the replacement of credit metres with pre-paid metres in its areas of operations and also engaged consultants to inspect metering of 10000 largest customers to check accuracy and integrity.

He underscored some achievements made during 2010 and 2011 in rural electrification as follows:

About 581 communities have been connected to national electricity grid, under the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP-4) as at August, 2011;

Again under Phase-2 electrification works by the China International Water & Electric Corporation, about 600 more communities will be connected by 2012;

167 additional communities that have been connected under the Ministry’s own rural electrification programme.

Dr Oteng-Adjei said under SHEP-4 works for the extension of electricity to 39 out of 82 communities in the Ashanti and Eastern Region have been completed, while the completion level for the rest is at 85%.

Additionally, construction works commenced in 200 communities in the Western Region while survey works are on-going in the Central and Brong Ahafo Regions.

Another project, jointly funded by a facility from the US Exim Bank and the Government of Ghana at a cost of US$ 350 will extend electricity to 1400 communities countrywide and this is being handled by Messre Wieldy Lamont &Associates.

The energy Minister hinted that his Ministry has begun the process of finalising a policy on street-lighting deployment in Ghana, which seeks to provide street-lighting facilities in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) capitals.

Under the policy, the MMDAs will own, operate and maintain these facilities in a sustainable manner.

Dr Oteng-Adjei lamented on the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) situation that “despite government’s efforts to meet LPG demand at an affordable price, supply of the product across the country has been inconsistent and below demand”.

“This situation has been attributed mainly to the increasing usage of LPG for operating commercial vehicles due to higher price differential between LPG and gasoline” he added. “The price differential is mainly the result of the subsidy component on LPG in the price build-up, which is designed for domestic users with the primary objective of meeting their demand at an affordable price” he stressed.

The minister said, government is committed to increasing the capacity of bulk oil storage and Transportation Company in both storage and transportation of bulk of products nationwide.

Source: ISD (Faith Junko-Ogawa)
Photo: Patience Lartey

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