The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has launched a major electrification project to connect 90 communities across all nine districts of the Oti Region to the national electricity grid, while intensifying existing networks to improve reliability and support economic development.

The Turnkey Electrification Project, being implemented under the Rural Electricity Acceleration and Urban Intensification Initiative (REIP), is aimed at extending electricity supply to communities without access and strengthening existing distribution infrastructure in areas already connected to the grid.

The project forms part of the Government’s broader directive to expand rural electrification across all 16 regions of the country. The Ministry is implementing the initiative in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).

Nine districts to benefit

The Engineer in charge of Power at the Ministry, Ing. Sulemana Abubakar, said Le-Grino had been selected to undertake the electrification works across the nine districts of the Oti Region.

The beneficiary districts are Guan, Buem, Akan, Biakoye, Nkwanta South, Nkwanta North, Krachi Twuburu, Krachi West and Krachi East.

He said the initiative was designed not only to connect communities that remained without electricity but also to improve existing networks to ensure more reliable supply and create the conditions for increased economic activity.

The project was launched at a sensitisation ceremony attended by traditional leaders, religious representatives, officials of the Ministry, ECG, NEDCo and other stakeholders.

Electricity as development catalyst

The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, described electricity as an “enabler for development and not an end”, stressing its importance to education, healthcare, businesses and other socio-economic activities.

He expressed appreciation to the Government for selecting 90 communities in the region for the intervention, saying improved electricity access would create opportunities for residents and strengthen the region’s contribution to national economic growth.

Mr Gyapong, who described Oti as Ghana’s youngest region with significant development potential, urged communities and traditional authorities to support the project and protect electricity infrastructure. He said the Regional Coordinating Council was prepared to collaborate with the relevant institutions to ensure successful implementation.

2,000 transformers for network stability

Launching the project, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition and Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, Richard Gyan-Mensah, said the initiative had two complementary components: rural electrification and urban intensification.

He explained that the rural component would extend electricity to communities without access, while the urban intensification component would improve and strengthen existing electricity networks to address reliability and capacity challenges.

He disclosed that the Government had released 2,000 distribution transformers for installation by ECG and NEDCo to improve the stability of electricity supply.

He said the Government was also considering mini-grid systems for communities located too far from existing distribution networks.

23,000 solar streetlights planned

The Deputy Minister also announced plans to improve community and highway lighting through solar technology, with about 23,000 solar streetlights being provided across the country.

Under the arrangement, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are expected to contribute part of the installation cost, with the Ministry financing the remainder.

Mr Gyan-Mensah said the Government’s electrification strategy would cover all 16 regions over the next four years, with the Volta, Oti, Savannah and North East regions among those receiving attention this year.

Eastern Corridor infrastructure

Addressing concerns about electricity supply and voltage stability in Oti, the Deputy Minister said Government was also pursuing infrastructure and connectivity projects that would support expansion and reliability of the electricity network.

He cited planned connectivity works involving Ho to Asiekpe, Kadjebi to Ho, Adobire to Salaga, and Tamale to Salaga, to be implemented in phases.

He said the interventions would contribute to improved electricity supply, voltage stability and sustainable economic development in the beneficiary areas.

Call to protect infrastructure

Mr Gyan-Mensah urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and traditional authorities to protect electricity infrastructure, prevent illegal connections and safeguard the rights-of-way required for the projects.

He also reminded electricity consumers of their responsibility to pay their bills, observe electrical safety measures and conserve energy.

The Overlord of Chonke, Nana Bondja Kwame II, welcomed the intervention and appealed to the Ministry to ensure that electricity supply in the Oti Region remained stable and reliable to sustain the development expected from the project.

The ceremony brought together traditional leaders from the nine districts, Christian and Muslim leaders, officials of the Ministry, ECG and NEDCo, among other stakeholders.

The launch marks a further step towards expanding electricity access in Oti and providing infrastructure to support businesses, schools, health facilities and improved livelihoods across the region.