Self Helped Electrification Money Not Adequate-Asante

Mr Kofi Abraham Asante, NDC-Amenfi East, on Monday said the 10.2 billion cedis earmarked for investment in the third phase of the Self Help Electrification Project 3 (SHEP) is "woefully inadequate."

He said that about 50 billion cedis would be needed to carry through the project for the year, adding, "government has not dealt fairly with the rural dweller."

The Ranking Member was contributing to a debate for the approval of the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Energy, which stands at 206.5 billion.

He said many projects would be frozen because of the low investment thus dashing the hopes of expectant communities.

"I am sure that such projects in West Gonja and Chereponi are threatened. Chereponi has managed to acquire 200 poles and wondering if these poles would be wired at all."

The member criticised government for not channelling resources into hydropower generation. "The Volta River Authority (VRA) has identified seventeen potential hydro-power sites in the country. The most prominent is the Bui and that site was not mentioned at all."

Mr. Asante urged government to commit itself to the West Africa Gas pipeline idea because its completion would ease some of the energy problems facing the country.

Mr Akwasi Dante-Afriyie, NPP-Atwima Mponua, called for the acceleration and expansion of the SHEP programme to check the high population growth in rural communities.

"In communities where there is no electricity, couple have very long hour of seeking comfort with their bodies."

Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of Energy, promised that he would make public the formula for the pricing of petroleum products.

He said a lot of attention and investment would be made in renewable energy this year. Later in the day, the house approved the budgetary allocation of 72 billion cedis meant for the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Members asked government to provide more resources to enable the Ministry to live up to expectation.