Ninety communities across the Oti Region are set to gain electricity under a new government project aimed at expanding access and improving power reliability. The Turnkey Electrification Project, launched under the Rural Electricity Acceleration and Urban Intensification Initiative (REIP), will cover all nine districts in Oti, including Guan, Buem, Akan, Biakoye, Nkwanta South, Nkwanta North, Krachi Nchumuru, Krachi West, and Krachi East.
Richard Gyan-Mensah, Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition and Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, said the project will tackle both rural and urban electricity needs. The rural side will bring power to communities without any access, while the urban intensification component aims to improve existing networks to make electricity supply more reliable.
Mr Gyan-Mensah said the government plans to extend this approach to all 16 regions over the next four years. The Volta, Oti, Savannah, and North East regions are among the first to benefit this year. As part of the project, 2,000 distribution transformers have been released for installation by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo). The transformers are meant to stabilise supply in various locations.
For communities that lie far from existing power lines, the government is considering mini-grid systems as an alternative way to provide electricity. This is part of a broader plan to reach areas that are difficult to connect to the main grid.
Deputy Minister Gyan-Mensah also announced plans to improve lighting in communities and along highways using solar streetlights. About 23,000 solar streetlights are expected to be installed nationwide. Under the scheme, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies will cover part of the installation costs, while the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition will pay the rest.
The Ministry is also working on strengthening electricity infrastructure along the Eastern Corridor. The planned connections include routes from Ho to Asiekpe, Kadjebi to Ho, Adobire to Salaga, and Tamale to Salaga. These works will be done in phases to improve supply and voltage stability in the region.
Mr Gyan-Mensah urged traditional authorities and local assemblies to protect electricity infrastructure. He called on them to prevent illegal connections and safeguard the rights-of-way needed for the projects. He also asked consumers to pay their electricity bills on time, observe electrical safety measures, and conserve power.
Sulemana Abubakar, the engineer in charge of power at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, said the project follows President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to expand rural electrification across all 16 regions. The Ministry is working closely with ECG and NEDCo to carry out the project. Le-Grino has been selected to undertake the electrification works across the nine districts in Oti.
John Kwadwo Gyapong, the Oti Regional Minister, said reliable electricity would open up opportunities and boost economic activity. He pointed to benefits for schools, health facilities, and businesses. “Electricity is an enabler for development and not an end,” he said.
Traditional leaders also welcomed the project. Nana Bondja Kwame II, the Overlord of Chonke, expressed hope the electricity supply would remain stable and reliable. The launch event brought together traditional and religious leaders, representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, ECG, NEDCo, and other stakeholders.
The project is designed to bring lasting change to communities in Oti, addressing longstanding gaps in electricity access. How the government and local bodies manage infrastructure protection and consumer behaviour will shape the impact of this ambitious rollout.
According to Joy Online.
