Mahama announces electrification for 172 Savannah Communities
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that 172 communities in the Savannah Region will soon be connected to electricity under phase one of the government’s rural electrification programme.
Speaking during the #ResettingGhana Tour Citizens’ Engagement in the Savannah Region, President Mahama said contracts have already been signed and contractors are moving to site to begin work.
“With energy and electrification, so far, phase one, we’ve identified 172 communities. The contract has been signed. The contractors are moving to site, and so 172 communities that didn’t have lights before will have light,” he stated.
The President noted that Savannah Region currently has one of the lowest electricity coverage rates in the country, standing at 68 percent compared to the national average of nearly 90 percent.
He said government’s goal is to significantly close the gap and improve access to power across the region.
“Currently, Savannah is one of the lowest coverage areas. We are at 68 percent, meanwhile the national average is close to 90 percent, and so our intention is to move it from 68 percent as close to the national average of 90 percent as possible,” Mahama said.
For remote communities that are far from the national grid, Mahama said government will deploy solar-powered solutions to ensure residents also benefit from electricity access.
“Those who are not close to the grid, we are looking at solar solutions, and so we’ll provide them with solar lights, because the grid is too far to be able to extend to their communities,” he added.
