The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has taken a swipe at former President Mahama saying that ‘Dumsor’ is his bona fide record, which no government would take from him.
According to the President, considering the investments made by his government in the power sector, Ghana will not return to the days of the power crisis, which lasted about four years under the Mahama administration.
“I want to reassure you all that my government will continue to work towards keeping the lights on, in spite of the global dynamics of energy pricing, because the alternative is not an option. We are not going back to ‘Dumsor’, we leave that to President Mahama,” Nana said.
President Akufo-Addo said this on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 on the Graphic Road in Accra, where he commissioned the 161 kilovolt GRIDCo ECG Bulk Power Supply Point (BSP).
The $40 million facility was constructed under the Project for the Reinforcement of Power Supply to Accra Central.
IMPORTANCE
According to the President, the new facility would enhance the capacity of the Accra Central Business District, as its power needs have important implications for the economy.
It has been projected that the electricity demand rate of residents and commercial establishments operating within Accra Central and its environs stand at 10% per annum.
In addition, power demand in Greater Accra is projected to reach about 1,000 megavolt-amperes (MVA), with an average annual growth rate of some eight percent (8%).
However, the project guarantees a stable, reliable and regular supply of electricity for the busy and bustling Accra Central Business District and surrounding areas.
The President said that the Accra Central BSP project was consistent with the nation’s power needs and development, with a GDP growth rate of up to fifteen percent (15%) around the time of project preparation.
THE FACILITY
The bulk supply point is a gas-insulated sub-station, which is GRIDCo’s first sub-station with such technology. This is an innovation in technology applied in areas where spaces are significantly limited, so large-capacity switchgear and transformers, which are compact, can be installed.
The benefits of the Accra Central Bulk Supply Point, among many others, are to reduce transmission and distribution losses, ensure high reliability of electricity supply and ensure a high level of personnel safety.
With the operationalisation of the Accra Central BSP, power voltages have become stable (protecting valuable equipment), power supply reliability has improved, and with this efficiency has been restored, reducing system losses as required by the regulator, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
GRANT
The Accra Central BSP project was constructed through a grant from the Japanese government and its external agency, the Japanese International Development Agency (JICA), without Japanese technology or technical assistance.
President Akufo-Addo extended his deep appreciation to the Japanese government and the other partners for their efforts, continuous support, and contribution to Ghana’s development and growth.
He described the project as an illustration of the strong cooperation that links Ghana and Japan, “which we cherish very much.”
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) provided access to part of the compound of its Primary Substation E, which facilitated the construction of the Accra Central BSP.
STRONG PILLAR
The Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, opined that the government had resolved to deal with the power crisis and has constructed such BSPs in Pokuase, Kasoa and other places.
He mentioned further that such facilities were a strong pillar of the President’s assurance that there would be no power crisis in the country again.
He observed that his ministry was focused on keeping the lights on and ensuring that under the tenure of the President, “there will be no fuel shortage and dumsor will be a thing of the history books of this country.”
The Board Chairman of GRIDCo, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere remarked that the facility was the 4th major sub-station of GRIDCo to be commissioned by President Akufo-Addo and his Vice in the last 18 months.
The country representative for JICA, Miss Suzui Momoko, said the project would provide stable power supply to the beneficiary environs.
She emphasised that the Accra Central BSP is the largest, with the first gas insulator switch gears and the first 161 kV underground cables in Ghana.
She added that the project has noise, flood control, and fire resistance mechanisms “to ensure maximum effect for the residents and businesses in the area.”
