Ghana Achieves 72% Electricity Distribution

[obeeme]

VENTURES AFRICA – Ghana has reached 72 percent electricity access across the country attributable to the commitment and collaboration between governments and developmental players, experts say.

According to Andrew Barfour, project coordinator at the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project (GEDAP), the country’s National Electrification Scheme (NES) has been such a success to date thanks to the commitment of parties – whether government, donors, or rural community members – to making wide-spread electrification a reality, and the willingness of parties to collaborate.

“…the commitment of various governments towards the success of the programme and the contribution of SHEP [self-help electrification programme] has helped in the phenomenal success. Also the contribution and collaboration of our development partners has contributed immensely to the success of GEDAP,” Barfour explains.

Pursuant to the project’s success, Barfour is set to be a key-note speaker at the African Utility Week in May, to share advice and experiences with attendees, and to voice his belief in the importance of the electrification in Africa.

“…in this modern world electrification cannot be overemphasized and therefore all countries must endeavour to ensure that electricity is extended to all corners of the continent if we want the economic circumstances of our people to improve for the better,” Barfour says, revealing that this will be the main crux of his message to conference participants.

Ghana launched its NES in 1989, the government realising the importance of developing an energy supply system for the country, due to the fact that only 25 percent of the population had access to electricity at the time. As such, the government made electrification a national priority, and has pushed for the spread of energy distribution across Ghana in the name of economic development.

The GEDAP is a $132 million project under the auspices of the national priority, funded by a number of donors, including the World Bank, the International Development Agency (IDA), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Global Partnership on Output-based Aid (GPOBA), the Africa Catalytic Growth Fund (ACGF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SECO).

Barfour describes the GEDAP’s aims, saying: “the development objective is to improve the operational efficiency of the power distribution system and increase the population’s access to electricity and help transition Ghana to a low-carbon economy through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

[popa1980]

One of the highest in SSA.

[Paperyostrich]

This is good news. Electricity is a vital componant to development. Without it then you're stuck in the stone age.

[popa1980]

^ what scared me was when I saw how low the electrical coverage is in most African nations- even places like Kenya and Tanzania have less than 50%. I think Tanzania is 15%.

[Paperyostrich]

Originally Posted by popa1980

^ what scared me was when I saw how low the electrical coverage is in most African nations- even places like Kenya and Tanzania have less than 50%. I think Tanzania is 15%.

It's terrible really. Even with all these large power projects, coverage remains low

[mwanamwiwa]

Originally Posted by popa1980

^ what scared me was when I saw how low the electrical coverage is in most African nations- even places like Kenya and Tanzania have less than 50%. I think Tanzania is 15%.

People in the village use Solar power. They are tired of waiting for essential Government services.

[Paperyostrich]

Originally Posted by mwanamwiwa

People in the village use Solar power. They are tired of waiting for essential Government services.

I think that could be a good idea. Solar power for small towns and villages, and the hydroelectric dams for the large towns and major cities.

[apollojoe]

The Euphoria surrounding this news really should be re-examined in light of the fact that even in the capital, there are frequent outages in the name of rationing. How can we boast of 72% coverage when service is inadequate and unreliable?

[popa1980]

Ghana is solving its power generation problem but there are maintenance issues and also problems with the distribution network. In theory there should be power for all times in Ghana.

[arzaranh]

couldn't akosomo dam provide 100% (at least when it was first built) of the nation's needs?

[popa1980]

Originally Posted by arzaranh

couldn't akosomo dam provide 100% (at least when it was first built) of the nation's needs?

God no. It hasnt been enough since the 90s.

[arzaranh]

Originally Posted by popa1980

God no. It hasnt been enough since the 90s.

well i know not now, but i meant when it was first built and a couple of decades afterward. i know only a little bit about the aluminum smelter which i think was foolish but i don't remember if it provided enough wattage for the entire country.