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Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Stable energy supply for industries in Ashanti, B/A -- Eric Opoku assures



The Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, has assured industries in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of regular and stable power supply on completion of ongoing expansion and rehabilitation works being carried out by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) in the two Regions.

He however dispelled claims that industries in the two regions are deliberately being made to suffer through the frequent power outages at the expense of their counterparts in other regions.

Mr. Opoku explained that the current state of power supply being experienced in the Ashanti Region in particular is a result of the expansion and rehabilitation works being undertaken by the ECG and GRIDCo -- including the construction of a second Bulk Supply Point (BSP), reinforcement of existing networks among many other things to improve power-supply in the Region.

The Minister observed that power apart from being an important factor is also an essential part of a successful strategy necessary to ensure accelerated, shared and sustainable growth, and noted that the need to ensure constant and quality supply of power to manufacturing industries and companies to boost productivity in the country must therefore be a concern to all well-meaning Ghanaians and businesses in particular.

He said the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions, regarded as a major industrial hub of the country, contributes significantly toward the social and economic transformation processes of the country.

“Apart from serving as a source of revenue to Government through taxes, the industries and businesses, among other benefits, provides employment for many Ghanaians,” he noted.

He was of the view that the Private Sector as the engine of growth of developing countries, if it is to play its role meaningfully, must be provided with an enabling environment to increase its output. He therefore pointed out to the AGI, as a major stakeholder partnering Government in the development of businesses, to collaborate more with Government and other stakeholders in the country to ensure uninterrupted operation for its members.

The assurance comes at the back of concerns raised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) on the effects of incessant power outages being experienced in the two Regions on industries and businesses, despite recent indications given by the President, H.E. John Mahama that the disruptions would considerably be reduced.

Mr. William Awuku Ahiadormey, Vice Chairman of AGI for Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, at a luncheon in Kumasi to find lasting solutions to minimise the effects of the power outages on industries and businesses in the two Regions, appealed for a fair share of utility supply and other resources needed to make the Regions competitive.

He noted the AGI has observed that even after the two Regions had gone through frequent power outages during the peak of the load-shedding exercise, they still continue to suffer prolonged power outages irrespective of the recent announcement of reduction in the exercise.

It was therefore against this background that the key stakeholders in power generation and supply were brought together by the AGI to offer some explanations, and together come out with solutions to mitigate the effects that the current situation is having on businesses and industries in the two Regions.

Officials from the ECG and GRIDCo who were present for the deliberations took turns to highlight the challenges they face in their operations. They gave an overview of ongoing activities and plans to augment the current volume of power being supplied to the Region.

In a related development, the Regional Minister appealed to the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to sensitise some its members ahead of Government’s plans to reconstruct some major markets in the Ashanti Region.

He announced that the Government of Ghana has secured funding from some development partners to reconstruct the Kumasi Central Market and as well construct three modern markets in the region.


By Kizito CUDJOE, Kumasi

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