Invite Energy Minister to the house -MP

Accra, GNA 18, GNA - Mr. Alfred Agbesi, (NDC-Ashaiman) on Friday urged Parliament to summon Energy Minister, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, before the House to brief members about the current energy crisis and steps being taken to deal with the issue.

The member, who caught the Speaker's eye immediately after the House had been briefed about the business agenda for next week, said things were getting out of hand with the destruction of electrical gadgets within the homes and there was the need for the Energy Minister to explain matters.


Mr Agbesi said despite promises made by President J.A. Kufuor to tackle the energy crisis, nothing seems to be happening.


The member also urged Parliament to invite the Minister of Education, who would be in the House next week, to answer question on the crisis at the University of Ghana following a policy which provides residential accommodation to only first year students.


The Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, in his ruling however directed Mr Agbesi to take up his concerns with the leadership of the House.

Later, Energy Minister, Mr Adda, responding to questions, told members that to prevent power cuts and fluctuations in the Jasikan, Kadjebi, Nkwanta and the Krachi districts in the Volta Region, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has proposed to install a 33kV Switching Station at Jasikan to interconnect the Hohoe-Nkwanta and the Kanda-Dabai lines.


He said the programme was to be funded from the government's allocation of an amount of 300 billion to ECG under the 2007 budget.


On plans to install a three-phase power system to replace the single-phase power at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Adda said a project that would cost about 15 million dollars has been put in place to ensure adequate power supply.


He said the project to be completed in 2009 would assist in the utilization of electricity for industrial purposes and to boost socio-economic development at Kintampo and its environs.