The people of Ghana have been reassured by President Nana Akufo-Addo that his government will continue to be persistent in guaranteeing a continuous electricity supply despite the volatility in global energy prices.
President Akufo-Addo explained that this is because the alternative cannot be tolerated.
During his speech on Tuesday, June 13, at the inauguration of the 161-kilovolt GRIDCo ECG Bulk Power Supply Point, the President emphasised that the country would not return to the era of power outages, also known as “dumsor,” which occurred during the tenure of the previous president, John Dramani Mahama. Dumsor was a term that was coined to describe the sporadic loss of electricity.
We are not going back to dumsor – Akufo-Addo Jabs Mahama
“We are not going back to Dumsor; we leave that to President Mahama,” he stated.
In his speech, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stressed the necessity of stable and inexpensive energy in the 21st century. He stated that access to reliable power is essential for the industrialization of a country and the development of its quality of life.
Akufo-Addo emphasised the critical function that electricity serves in day-to-day activities, such as the operation of enterprises and the charging of mobile phones, and he emphasised the requirement for universal power coverage in order to fuel economic growth.
The President also noted the significance of addressing the power requirements of Accra’s Central Business District, where it is anticipated that the annual growth rate of electricity consumption will be 10%.
With an average annual growth rate of 8%, it is anticipated that the Greater Accra region will achieve a power demand of 1,000 megavolt-amperes (MVA) within the next few years. He made a point of emphasising that the Accra Central Bulk Power Supply Project is in line with the power requirements of the country as well as its economic development.
President Akufo-Addo praised the successful completion of the 161-kilovolt Bulk Supply Point, which would ensure a consistent and steady supply of energy to the bustling Central Business District of Accra and the suburbs that surround it.
Akufo-Addo thanked the Japanese government and the Japanese International Development Agency (JICA) for their substantial grant and the technical assistance that they provided, both of which were essential to the completion of the project.
Additionally, the President extended his gratitude to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana’s traditional leaders, and all of the other stakeholders that supported the project.
The Accra Central Bulk Power Supply Project utilises gas-insulated substation technology, which makes it possible to place small switchgear and transformers in areas with restricted space.
This new development lessens the burden on the transmission and distribution systems, boosts the dependability of the power supply, and makes working conditions safer for workers.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) standards have been satisfied as a result of the successful operationalization of the Accra Central BSP. These improvements include an increase in voltage stability, an improvement in the reliability of the power supply, and a reduction in system losses.
In closing, the President reaffirmed his dedication to the sustained growth and development of the nation, as well as his gratitude for the productive partnership that exists between Ghana and Japan.