Mafi villages say, "no power, no vote"

Mafi-Aklamador (Volta Region) -The Chiefs and people of Mafi-Aklamador and surrounding villages are threatening not to vote on December 7 if approval is not given for the connection of electricity to some 20 towns and villages in the area.

They are disappointed that only six out of 20 villages, which have erected their own electric poles in the area, have been selected for power supply under the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP).

Togbe Deyo Dzisah I, Chief of Mafi Aklamador, who expressed the people's concern at a durbar of chiefs and opinion leaders on Saturday, said the 20 villages contributed over 100 million cedis to erect 170 electric poles.

He said the people have also acquired their own transformer but according to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) only Volo, Dorfor Adidome, Afaode-Gborkpo, Mafi-Tsetsekpo, Mafi-Devime and Mafi-Dove have been listed for power supply this year.

He said what is more disappointing is that Dofor Adidome and Afaode Gborkpo, which are yet to erect their electric poles have been listed for connection to the national grid.

Togbe Dzisah said it was sad that while the Ministry of Mines and Energy has approved power connection to 16 towns and villages in South Tongu District it approved only six for North Tongu. Mr. Francis Senahey, Assemblyman for Mafi-Devime electoral area said all the 20 villages, fall within the 20-kilometre radius given by the ECG as a requirement for connection to the national grid.

He said the peoples' threat not to vote as expressed by the chiefs was real and urged the government to take the matter seriously.