Krachi West Municipal, 2 districts to benefit from 20-megawatt solar power plant

Mr Machator (fifth from left) with
Nana Mprah Besemuna (middle) and
other dignitaries after the programme

Residents of Krachi-West Municipality, Krachi-Nchumuru and Nkwanta-North districts in the Oti Region are to benefit from a 20 – megawatt solar power plant to bring to an end the erratic power supply in the beneficiary areas.

This follows several appeals made by the people in the affected areas to the government about the unreliable power supply in the areas for over five years which had impacted negatively on businesses and quality healthcare delivery at the Krachi government hospital.

The Oti Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Machator, made this known in the company of officials of the Volta River Authority (VRA) at Kete-Krachi in the Krach-West Municipality, when they visited the President of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs (ORHC), who is also the Krachiwura, Nana Mprah Besemuna III, and appealed to him to give 20 hectares of land for the project in the municipality.

Mr Machator said the solar power initiative formed part of the government’s commitment to providing sustainable and reliable power supply in order to end the irregular power challenges the people experienced over the years.

He explained that the solar power project would not only aimed at stabilising electricity supply to the people, but would also reduce their dependency on power from the national grid.

The Minister observed that consistent and sustainable electricity supply which was crucial for improving the quality of life and fostering economic development in the beneficiary areas.

Moreover, Mr Machator expressed joy that apart from addressing the power crisis, the project would also help create job opportunities and stimulate the economic growth of the region.

He further expressed the hope that with the support of the people as well as the government’s commitment, the construction of the solar plant in the Krachi-West Municipality would be completed by the end of November 2024.

The Krachiwura, Nana Mprah Besemuna, commended the government initiative to tackle the power problem confronting the people, which had affected the socioeconomic life of the people over the years.

Nana Mprah Besemuna, therefore, assured the Minister of an available land for the project, and stressed the importance of viable power supply in addressing the development challenges of the region.

He also pledged the commitment of the chiefs and people in the area, to cooperate with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the project would be completed on time.

The VRA officials, who accompanied the Regional Minister, were Mr Kofi Oteng, Estate Officer, Mr Aaron Osei Sika, Surveyor and Mr Kojo Osei, an engineer.

FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, KETE-KRACHI