9 TECHIMAN COMMUNITIES TO GET ELECTRICITY (NSEMPA, PAGE 15)

By Samuel Duodu, Techiman.

THE Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo-Twumasi, has cut the sod for the extension of electricity from the national grid to 19 communities in the Techiman Municipality.
At the ceremony at Techiman, Mr Amporfo-Twumasi said the project was part of a three-year electrification programme costing $90 million.
Under the programme, 70 towns in the Brong Ahafo Region would benefit from the national grid. He said nationwide, 580 towns will benefit from the facility.
According to the deputy minister, $81 million of the amount was sourced from the Chinese government with the Ghana government providing the rest.
Mr Amporfo-Twumasi added that presently 56 percent of the country benefits from electrical power and that other sources like solar would be harnessed to power towns and villages, which cannot immediately access power from the national grid.
He said it is the policy of government that from this year at least five towns in each district would be connected to the national grid as part of a wide plan to get power to every town and village in the country in the near future.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Techiman, Mr. Prince Yaw Donyina, in his speech to mark the occasion, said the project was initiated by the former Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Prince Oduro Mensah.
He expressed the hope that the project would help boost industrial activity in the beneficiary towns.
The project, which is to be undertaken by the Chinese Water and Electrical company is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Nana Ameyaw Boateng, the Odikro of Twemiankwanta, chaired the function.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included Mr Ishaq Bonsu, District Chief Executive for Asunafo North, Mr George Yaw Boakye, District Chief Executive for Asunafo South and Mr Antwi Darkwa, the Director of Power at the Ministry of energy.