More communities to get electricity by June 2004

Cape Coast Nov. 16, GNA - Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy, on Friday announced that the nation needs about 1.8 billion dollars to generate and distribute electricity efficiently, and that under the rural electrification programme,1,069 more communities nationwide, would be connected to the national grid by the end of June next year.

He said 4,000 solar power plants have also been installed in some communities in the Northern Region.

Dr Nduom, who was speaking on "the role of the energy sector in the Golden age of business", at a forum organised by the Casely Hayford Hall of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), as part of its Hall Week celebration, said some junior secondary schools in the north would also be provided with solar power to enhance teaching and learning.

The Week is being celebrated on the theme: "The impact of HIV/AIDS, the role of the tertiary student".

The Minister, said about 45 per cent of the Ghanaian population do not have electricity and stressed that everything would be done to cover most parts of the country by 2005.

Dr Nduom reiterated that in the next five years, Ghana would be a net exporter of electricity and petroleum products to neighbouring countries like Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Togo, Benin, as well as to the United States.

Touching on the infrastructural needs of the country, the Minister gave the assurance that several projects would be put in place to help improve the living standards of Ghanaians, adding that plans are far advanced to improve the railway system to facilitate the exportation of goods to other West African countries.

He said everything is also being done to increase the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 300 dollars to 1,000 dollars in the next 10 years, and charged the students to contribute constructively to socio-economic development, by availing themselves of opportunities that come their way.

Other programmes lined up for the Hall Week include street jam, Gospel rock show and a durbar.