Low Tension Poles Requirement To Be Abolished

The Ministry of Energy is considering revoking the provision that requires rural communities to procure low tension poles before they are connected to the national electricity grid, the sector minister, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, told Parliament yesterday.

He said the issue of scrapping the pre-condition for the supply of power to rural communities came up strongly during a meeting of sector agencies under the ministry recently.

Responding to a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra-Nandom , Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, the minister said the meeting discussed exhaustively the implications of such a move on the national economy and its impact on the rural communities.

Dr Kumbuor appealed to the ministry to consider the removal of the clause which enjoined rural communities to procure low tension poles before they are connected to the national electricity grid.

According to the MP, a number of communities in the rural area find it extremely difficult to raise money to buy such poles because of what he termed the “depressing poor conditions of the people”.

The MP for Damongo-Daboya, Mr Alex Seidu Sofo, also asked the minister when his ministry intended to extend electricity to a number of communities in his constituency.

Replying, Mr Adda said based on a request from the Ministry of Tourism and the management of the Mole Game Reserve, the Ministry of Energy carried out feasibility studies and subsequently connected the reserve to the national electricity grid in 2004.

He explained that power supply was extended to the whole facility including the guest house and the landing site area to serve the new hotel which was partly completed by then.

The minister further explained that with regard to the Lingbinshi and Busunu communities, the ministry had carried out engineering studies for the extension of power to the communities.

“These communities, however, do not form part of the ongoing Shep-4 Phase 1 Project, which is of limited scope,” he said.

Mr Adda promised that the Lingbinshi and Busunu communities would be connected to the national grid in subsequent phases of the shep-4 in line with the implementation schedule and the availability of funding.