Parliament
concerned about rural electrification project
Accra (Greater Accra)
24 October 2002 - Members of Parliament on Wednesday expressed concern about
delays in the execution of on-going rural electrification programmes under the
Phase-Three of the Self-Help Electrification Project.
The members' questions
centred on whether the project was on schedule, what has slowed down its pace,
whether, because of lack of funds and what the time schedule of the SHEP-Three.
Godfred Otchere, NPP
MP for Ayesuano had asked the Minister for Energy why Kofi Pare, near Kraboa
Coaltar has not been connected to the National Grid despite the fact that it
has met the requirements set out under SHEP-Three.
Kobina Tahir Hammond,
Deputy Minister for Energy on behalf of the Minister said following the
completion of the High Voltage and Low Voltage networks, materials for the
service connections for Kofi Pare were initially released to the Regional
offices of Electricity Company of Ghana in the Eastern Region.
He said however, due
to some administrative hiccups at the regional offices, works on these
connections have now started and would be completed by the end of next month.
John Mahama, NDC-Bole asked the Deputy Minister what had slowed down the pace
of the SHEP project and the Minister said he needed notice to give an informed
answer.
After a series of
debates and arguments from the Majority and Minority concerning the SHEP-Three
project, Kenneth Dzirasah, the Second Deputy Speaker, who was in the chair
asked the Deputy Minister whether the project was on schedule to which he
answered in the affirmative.
Joe Gidisu, NDC- North
Tongu asked about the time schedule on the terms of the SHEP- Three projects
and the Deputy Minister said it was to stop by the end of this year. He
explained that some communities, especially in the Northern sector have been
unable to purchase low tension poles for their electrification projects, which
has delayed most of the projects.
Gidisu drew the
attention of the Deputy Minister to some communities in the Northern parts of
the Volta Region, which have purchased the poles but have still not been
connected and the Minister said such communities would be assisted to get
connected to the National Grid.
Otchere, in another
question asked why the on-going electrification project at Asuboi on the
Nsawam-Suhum road has been suspended by the contractor. Hammond said the
project has not been suspended since concrete poles were originally released
for the construction of the High Voltage networks.
He said, however, due
to the hilly terrain of some portions of the line route, the consultants
recommended that wooden poles should be used to replace the concrete poles in
the hilly areas. Hammond said the replacement poles have been ordered and it
was expected to be delivered to the site by November to enable the completion
of the project by the end of December, 2002.
Otchere asked whether
the Minister was aware that the contractor had not been on site for the past
one year and the Minister said it might be because of change of poles that
caused the delay of the project.
Seidu Adamu,
NDC-Bibiani/Anhwiase/Bekwai asked whether beneficiary communities are under any
compulsion to offer communal labour in the erection of the poles and the
Minister said it was not a requirement.
GRi…/
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