1,400 Communities In Ashanti To Get Electricity

Sewuah (Ashanti Region), 16 Oct. One thousand four hundred communities have been selected to be connected to the national electricity grid under phase three of the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP-3), Mr. Fred Ohene-Kena, Minister of Mines and Energy, has announced. The project is being funded at a total cost of 100 million dollars. Eighty per cent of the funding is coming from external support with the remainder provided by the government. The Minister made these known when he inspected some SHEP-3 projects at Sewua, Prabon, Aboaso, Atobiase and Akwaduo, all in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District. Mr. Ohene-Kena explained that all the external materials required for the smooth implementation of the project are in the country. The Minister was optimistic that about 172 communities, out of which 40 are in Ashanti, would enjoy power before the end of the year. He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the five SHEP projects he inspected. Mr. Ohene-Kena was accompanied by Dr. Oteng Agyei, Energy Adviser and other top officials of the Ministry.