Korea to support Ghana's electrification programme

Kumasi, March 25, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday announced that Government was collaborating with the Korean government and other partners to secure a 330 KV transmission line to boost the country's electrification programme.

"All necessary arrangements have been made and the Korean government has asked us to come out with estimates and proposals on the project for them to study for execution."

The transmission line when acquired would not only serve Aboadze through Prestea, Kumasi and Han in the Upper West Region, but would also strengthen and help Ghana to embark on a regional interconnection to Burkina Faso and Mali.

Vice President Mahama announced these when he inaugurated the Kumasi-Obuasi Transmission Reinforcement Project at Kumasi. The Kumasi-Obuasi transmission project was constructed to increase the=

power transfer capacity to Obuasi and Kumasi and to eliminate one of the most critical transmission bottlenecks on the network.

The Vice President said government was also working with the West Afri= can Power Pool (WAPP) Secretariat to secure 14.4 Million Euros to construct a=

48-kilometre transmission line from Han in the Upper West Region to Burki= na Faso to open up opportunities for Ghanaian power plants to reach Burkinab= e and Malian markets.

He called on Public Utility providers to provide quality service as a justification for the increment of their tariffs in the country, stressin= g "while tariff increase must be necessary, there should be visible improvements in your services to justify your increases." Mr. Joe Oteng Adjei, Minister of Energy, said government would support=

Grid Company (GRIDCO) to acquire both capacity and funding to extend electricity to many more communities and areas throughout the country in fulfillment of their promise to serve every community.

He said the fact that the Mills administration had continued a program= me started by the Kufuor administration was a clear-cut demonstration that t= he government was committed to the continuity slogan. Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, said the Regional Coordinating Council would support all agencies engaged in power supply without hindrance to enable them to provide quality service to the people= .. He expressed the hope that the provision of the power transmission lin= e would curtail all power interruptions in the region. Mr Charles Darku, Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCO, gave the assurance=

that his outfit would work diligently to provide quality service to all Ghanaians and other customers beyond Ghana. The project was funded by the Government of Ghana and executed by SAE Power Lines of Italy. 25 March 10