The Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has appealed to the public to bear the ongoing transmission line upgrade by GRIDCo.
“It is the challenges we are dealing with right now. And all I will ask of Ghanaians is to be forbearing and we will come out of the problem.”
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Speaking during a visit to the GRIDCo project site, he intimated that, the project which is ongoing has nothing to do with finances of GRIDCo or the energy sector.
“The project is an ongoing project and has nothing to do with finances. Accra has expanded and so the power it is supposed to transmit has increased tremendously. So, they are giving us lines that can improve the power situation. We just need the forbearance of Ghanaians because what we are planning and what we are doing is the best for them.”
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Also touching on if there would be other improvement projects across the country, Dr. Opoku Prempeh disclosed that, it was part of the budget and his ministry is going to improve the systems that has been here since the 50’s till all gets done.
Project has nothing to do with dumsor
Commenting further on the public outcry of the nation returning to the Dumsor era, he averred that the problem was that of upgrade project and has nothing to do with Dumsor.
“We should all be truthful in our communication. In 2016 the government of the day told us that it was a generation problem. Even the opposition talked about government not having money to buy fuel. This is not a generation problem, this is not about fuel; so how could it be Dumsor?
“Dumsor is planned and a timetable is rolled out and it affected the whole country. Is that what we are seeing? No! So, it is the system that has a challenge and the reason why the system upgrades are being done is what we are feeling. We have to bear with the contractors so they finish in time so we can enjoy the improvement we so desire.”
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
The Minister also debunked ongoing claims that, the project is a deliberate attempt by government to justify reasons for the PURC’s upcoming tariff increment.
“In the obvious fact as we see, this project has been ongoing for some time. I can simply say it is not true.”
Project will ensure more power load
Mr. Owusu Afriyie, Director in charge of engineering projects for GRIDCo explaining the progress so far, revealed that his outfit is upgrading the existing transmission lines which has been constructed from 1965 to date.
This, he also said, is being done to ensure that more power load is able to be transported to Accra and its environs.
“The project commences from the Volta substation, one of our bulk supply points in Tema to Achimota. What we are seeing at the moment is the activities of the contractor’s workmen. What they are doing is that they are doing the stringing of the conductors on the tower to the substation.”
Mr. Owusu Afriyie
He further indicated the project is expected to be completed in September this year.
