A deputy Minister of Energy and MP for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, believes energy is the solution to bridging the developmental gap between the northern and the south part of Ghana.
According to him, efficient power supply to micro and small enterprises in the north will not only transform the economy but also serve as an impetus in the efficient implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) — which provides a long-term development strategy for bridging the north-south gap in the country.
The Minister has therefore charged authorities at the Volta River Authority (VRA) to be responsible and accountable in providing quality electricity to the people of the north and the country as a whole.
The Minister made this observation in Tamale at the swearing-in of the Board of Directors and launch of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (VRA/NEDco) — a subsidiary of the VRA.
The operationalising of VRA/NEDco is part of the Power Sector Reforms started in the 1990s and follows the establishment and similar operationalising of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDco) in 2005 and 2008 respectively.
VRA/NEDco is to bring additional resources from external and internal sources to supplement VRA’s ongoing support of the current Northern Electricity Department (NED) operations, as well as provide it with the right organisational structure to manage its affairs more effectively.
This will enable VRA/NEDco to deal directly with government and regulators such as the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) on key issues pertaining to its viability and sustainability.
In this regard, NEDco will be eligible to file a tariff submission to PURC separate from what is filed by VRA.
NEDco will also be able to deal directly with multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and IMF, and specify its needs and requirements for the successful delivery of its mandate.
The Deputy Energy Minister also assured the Management and Staff of NEDco of Government’s unflinching support in ensuring the success of NEDco.
“The doors of the Ministry of Energy are wide open to partner you in all areas of your endeavours to enable you meet your mission of providing adequate and reliable electricity supply to citizens in the northern part of the country.
“We are aware that NEDco faces a barrage of challenges; but these challenges, though daunting, are surmountable in the assurance of our unwavering commitment as partners in the industry,” he said.
The seven-member board of NEDco is made up of Mr. Kwaku Andoh Awotwi as Chairman and Messrs John Nuworklo, William Hutton-Mensah and Christian Tetteh. The rest are Alhaji Attah Mahamadu, Dr. Donyina-Ameyaw, and Dr. Sulley Gariba — all members.
By Abdul-Kudus Fuseini, Tamale
