Japan to assist in improving power supply

The Japanese government is expending GH¢50.3 million grant to Ghana to improve power distribution systems in Brong-Ahafo and the Northern Regions.

The amount is for the construction of 7.5MVA and 34.5/11KV primary sub-stations each in the Tamale Metropolis and the Sunyani Municipality.

Mr John Abu Jinapor, Deputy Minister of Energy and Petroleum, disclosed this when he inspected works on the project at Kotokrom in the Sunyani Municipality on Thursday.

Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan was executing the two projects, expected to be completed in August 2015.

The two projects would increase system capacity to allow the connection of additional consumers to the national electricity grid and improve system voltage quality in some areas in the two towns.

Mr Jinapor observed that the National Electricity Distribution Company’s (NEDCO) operations had suffered from some system inadequacies such as suppressed demand and lack of capacity, due to overloaded transformers and lines leading to low power availability, reliability and access to electricity.

Mr Jinapor said additional 800 communities in the Brong-Ahafo Region would soon be hooked unto the national grid and thanked the Japanese government for the assistance.

He was optimistic that the Ghana-Japan bilateral and diplomatic relations would be strengthened for mutual benefit.

Mr Isaac Bedu, Project Manager at the Volta River Authority said the Kotokrom sub-station, which was about 50 per cent complete, would also enhance power reliability at Chiraa and liberation barracks, whilst a dedicated line would be connected to the regional hospital.