Dr Kwebena Donkor
The Minister of Power, Dr Kwebena Donkor has threatened to plunge the entire Tamale metropolis into darkness for a week.
According to him, if the youth of the area do not stop unprovoked attacks on personnel of the Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO), he would have no option but to carry out his threat.
He dared the youth to vandalize the property of the company, stating that he would ensure that residents in the city sleep in darkness for a week.
The Minister, who expressed disgust at the recent attack on the VRA’s Complaints Offices in Tamale by some aggrieved youth, described their action as distasteful, disclosing that he would have cut electricity supply to the city if he had been in the country at the time of the incident.
Dr. Donkor stated that he would be compelled to relocate Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) head office from Tamale to Techiman if residents do not put a stop to the constant attacks on personnel of NEDCO.
He therefore called on the Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Mohammed Muniru-Limuna and the Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) to ensure that those found culpable are arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
During the inauguration of the $13.74 million state-of-the-art NEDCO substation at Nyakpala in the Tolon District of the Northern region, which built with a Japanese grant, he appealed to traditional rulers in Tamale and environs to call the recalcitrant youth to order.
He observed that the outrageous and lawless conduct of the youth could tarnish the image of the people in the region.
Dr. Donkor reiterated government’s resolve to ending the energy crisis in the country, adding that various agencies in the energy sector were working hard to meet the December 2015 deadline to end the energy crisis in the country.
Government recognizes the debilitating effect of the energy crisis on businesses in the country, he added, reaffirming government’s commitment to live up to expectation.
According to Dr Donkor, the state is bent on ensuring that the country obtains sufficient power supply by 2020.
He reminded the citizenry of their obligation to pay their bills regularly and promptly to enable the power companies to provide them with adequate electricity.
The representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Office in Ghana, Koji Makino reiterated the Japanese government’s commitment to assisting Ghana to improve the power sector, among others.
Mr. Koji said 11,000 people would benefit directly from the primary NEDCO substation while 675,000 people would benefit indirectly.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji ABA Fuseini said the project would help stabilize power supply in the region and reduce the low voltage problems experienced by some people in areas in the city.
He observed that the new power station would accelerate socio-economic development of the Tolon District and beyond and appealed to residents to protect it.
Alhaji Fuseini noted that the substation would help NEDCO connect more houses to the national grid and urged management of the company to ensure that residents benefit immensely from the project.
From Stephen Zoure, Tamale
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