The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugre, has issued an impassioned call for urgent action to address outstanding issues under the government’s Rural Electrification Project, emphasizing the need to connect hundreds of unserved communities in the region to the national grid.
Mr. Akamugre appealed for a recent public hearing organized by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in Bolgatanga, a gathering that drew utility sector leaders, public officials, and residents eager to air their concerns about essential services.
The public hearing, part of the PURC’s ongoing Multi-Year Tariff Review Program, brought together representatives from the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), the Volta River Authority (VRA), civil society, and community members. The forum provided an opportunity for stakeholders to debate proposed tariff adjustments for the 2026–2030 regulatory period and to highlight local development needs.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Akamugre acknowledged the significant strides made over recent years in expanding electricity coverage across rural Ghana. However, he painted a sobering picture of the persistent gaps in the Upper East Region. “As of the end of 2024, the region’s electricity coverage stood at around 66.5%, which is far below the national average of 89%. Currently, over 800 communities and sections in the region are yet to be connected to the national grid,” he revealed.
The minister described how incomplete connections, coupled with delays in the delivery of transformers, poles, and cables, have left scores of schools, health facilities, and small-scale businesses without reliable power. “While water is required to support agriculture, drive local industries, and sustain our lives, electricity is needed to power our schools, hospitals, businesses, and offices,” he emphasized, underlining the critical role of electrification in the region’s social and economic progress.
Mr. Akamugre used the platform to make a direct appeal to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, urging a comprehensive review and swift resolution of all pending issues under the Rural Electrification Project. “Most of these communities were captured but unfortunately stalled under the erstwhile administration. I appeal to the Minister for Energy and the Green Transition to review and address all outstanding issues under the project,” he said, calling for a renewed commitment to bridging the rural–urban development gap.
The minister’s remarks resonated strongly with participants, many of whom recounted how the lack of electricity hampers education, healthcare, and local enterprise, especially in remote districts such as Builsa, Nabdam, Garu, and Tempane. Residents shared stories of children studying by candlelight, clinics struggling to store medicines safely, and small businesses unable to expand due to unreliable power.
In addition to electrification, Mr. Akamugre highlighted ongoing challenges with access to potable water. “It will also interest you to note that while the region’s rural water coverage stood at 63.9% as of 2024, according to statistics from the Ghana Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the safety of the water remains a challenge due to contamination from fluoride and chloroform. This is an issue we must address to safeguard the health of rural and peri-urban residents,” he cautioned.
Throughout the hearing, participants raised concerns about frequent power outages, high utility tariffs, and poor customer service, issues that, even after grid connection, continue to undermine livelihoods and slow economic growth. Some residents lament that, despite recent improvements, persistent power fluctuations still disrupt their daily activities and put additional strain on their household budgets.
Officials from the PURC assured stakeholders that all feedback from the nationwide hearings would be carefully considered in the Commission’s final decision on new tariffs for electricity and water. “We are here to listen, and your concerns will help inform the regulatory decisions that affect you,” a PURC spokesperson affirmed. The Bolgatanga session was one of several consultations scheduled across the country as the Commission prepares to set tariffs for the 2026–2030 period.
The Rural Electrification Project in the Upper East Region has seen various phases of implementation. However, Minister Akamugre stressed that more needs to be done to reach the hundreds of communities still in darkness. He called on the Ministry of Energy and its implementing agencies to expedite work, prioritize delivery of needed equipment, and provide clear timelines for project completion.
As the public hearing concluded, residents expressed renewed hope that the government would heed the minister’s call and accelerate efforts to deliver reliable electricity and clean water to every corner of the Upper East Region. For many, the event underscored the power of public engagement in holding authorities accountable and shaping the future of essential services.
With the PURC’s tariff review process underway, the region’s leaders and residents alike are watching closely, united in their demand for progress, equity, and the fulfillment of long-promised development goals.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
