The Member of Parliament (MP) for Binduri Constituency in the Upper East Region, Mr Abdulai Abanga, has pledged of his determination to ensure 100% 100 percent supply of electricity by the end of his four-year tenure.
According to him, he is working closely with the current administration to make that dream a reality in order to boost the local economy.
The lawmaker disclosed this in an interaction with NR NEWS in Parliament House after posing a question to the Minister of Energy on the floor over delays in completing a Self-Help Electricity Project (SHEP) in some communities within his Constituency.
According to the Binduri MP, on-going works on electrification projects under SHEP-4 programme in the following communities such as Sakpari-Natinga, Sakpari-Bakango and Sakpari- Poayamire have stalled for some time now.
A Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr William Owuraku Aidoo on behalf of the sector Minister, in a response said the communities are part of the Ministry of Energy’s ongoing SHEP-4 rural electrification project in the Binduri District where poles have already been supplied.
“A total of 47 High Voltage (HV) poles required for the communities have been supplied and planted”, while HV installation works have been completed at Sakpari-Natinga, Sakpari-Bakango and Sakpari-Poayamire communities” he stated.
Additionally, 455 Low Voltage (LV) poles for the project have also been supplied and planted in Sakpari-Natinga, Sakpari-Bakango and SakpariPoayamire communities, but conductors for the LV stringing in Sakpari-Natinga are yet to be supplied.
“Mr. Speaker, stringing of HV conductors has also been completed in these communities. While the transformers have been delivered to the communities, installation is yet to be done. Meter installation works are ongoing in Sakpari Bakango.
The delays in the execution of the electrification project in the communities are due to the shortage of some key materials/equipment including stay equipment, conductors, transformers, etc”
The Ministry, Mr. Aidoo said has taken delivery of some of the materials/equipment and is arranging for the release of same for installation works to resume at the site, adding that “the Ministry of Energy expects to complete the installation works in the above-mentioned communities by end of the year.”
Hon Abanga said he would continue lobbying government to the improve power supply to all communities and stated that all things being equal every community within the Binduri Constituency will enjoy electricity for the first time by the end of his first term saying, “The completion of the ongoing Power Supply projects will be pursued for the interest of my people.”
He reiterated President Akufo Addo’s commitment to 100 percent coverage of electricity supply across the country which is not in doubt and strongly believed when implemented, the people of Binduri would largely benefit.
The Binduri constituency shares boundaries with Burkina Faso to the north, Garu-Tempane District to the south, Bawku Municipality to the east and Bawku West District to the west.
It has a total population of 61,576, with a population density of 157.1 persons per square kilometers, according to the 2010 population and Housing Census.
The Constituents are predominantly farmers with few trades and commence in the District Capital and other communities.
