Thirty-five (35) communities in the Kumbungu District in the Northern Region have been connected to the national grid under the Rural Electrification Project (REP).
The beneficiary communities include Kpachi, Kokpeng, Kochem A, Kochem B, Zoo Naa yili, Tignyoring,, Timonaayili, Dinyo Kpaligu, Fandu, Zangbalung Kukuo, Seegbini, Ganvuliga, Bongnaayili, Vuggu Digu, Yugyili, Suang, Namdu Kuriku, Namdu-Wahani.
The rest are Zangbalung Bihi, Gbanzogu Kukuo, Gung, Tanshegu, Nakpaatua, Garizegu, Gbandu, Zolan-yili, Wayaayo, Newtown A, Newtown B, Aflao, and Border.
Street lights were installed in all the beneficiary communities.
The project, an initiative of the DCE was fully funded by the Government of Ghana, is aimed at enhancing the economic and social lives of the people.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony at the various communities on Monday November 21, 2022, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kumbungu, Honorable Abdul Salam Hamza Abdul Fatawu, said his outfit through the district assembly had facilitated and hooked over 66 communities on to the national grid since assuming the DCE position and “this is historic”, he stated.
According to him, the extension of electricity to the communities formed part of his efforts towards ensuring Kumbungu district attained a 100% electricity coverage in the Northern Region.
“We are determined to achieve universal electricity coverage in the district to enhance the economic and social lives of the people,” he said.
He added that, the project was also to open up the entire district for the establishment of cottage industries and promote commercial activities in the area.
Honorable Abdul Fatawu said the rapid work on connecting the communities to electricity came as a result of continued appeals from the various communities to get them connected to the national grid.
He said most of the communities had been without electricity and that had affected their economic activities since they could not use technology.
He added that the incidence of women and community members walking long distances to charge their phones and also mill their flour would come to an end and students who used to learn with lanterns would now have lights to learn and this would boost their performance in school.
He expressed satisfaction with the timeliness with which physical infrastructure projects had been delivered in the district, and cataloged several achievements the NPP government through his efforts had brought to the people of Kumbungu district.
“The people of Kumbungu have gotten more than they have ever got in any administration, in terms of rural electrification. We are inching towards a 100% coverage when it comes to road network. We have done more than any government. Majority of the roads within the district have seen a face lift. Work is still ongoing on other roads to make them motorable. For the first time Kumbungu township roads is under construction even though the contractor has left the side. We are still persuading him to come back and complete the work”, he said.
“Other developmental projects are ongoing including school infrastructure, health among others”, he added.
The DCE in an interaction with the media after the inaugural ceremony therefore, advise the beneficiary communities members to pay their bills and other taxes promptly to enable government carry out other developmental projects in the country.
Hon Abdul Fatawu before the inauguration ceremony also constitute a ten-member committee at the communities to take proper care of the electrical poles within the communities.
Women and children of Kpachi, Kokpeng, Kochem A, KochemB, Zoo Naa yili, Tignyoring, where the DCE switched on the lights to signify the inauguration of the electrification project, could not hide their joy and excitement as they danced and sang their hearts out.
The youth of the beneficiary communities also presented a citation to the DCE to signify their appreciation.
Meanwhile the Chiefs of the beneficiary communities, expressed gratitude to the government and the DCE for the electrification project which, they said, would go a long way to improve on their conditions of living.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.
