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President Akufo-Addo on Saturday commissioned a 6.5 megawatt solar power plant, located in Lawra in the Upper West region.
According to him, the ceremony reaffirms his Government’s commitment to diversify the country’s power generation portfolio and, thereby, contribute to increasing the renewable energy component of the country’s energy mix, and contribute to the fight against the effects of climate change.
“I indicated, at that time, that, once completed, these two projects will deliver a combined electricity supply of about twenty 20 megawatts to the national grid.
Eight months later, I am happy to commission the first of the energy projects that has been completed, and it is the 6.5 megawatt Solar Power Project, here in Lawra, ”he said.
“The completion of this project in Lawra should remind us all that the Government of Nana Akufo-Addo keeps its promises,” he added.
The President continued: “As I indicated at the lawn mowing ceremony, this solar plant is the first of its kind to be established in the Upper West region. This means that the Upper West region now has its fair share of power generation facilities in the country. “
It will be recalled that on February 4 of this year, the president was in Kaleo, in the Nadowli district, to cut the grass for the construction of two solar energy projects, one in Kaleo and the other in Lawra, both in the region. Upper West. .
Akufo-Addo was confident that the solar plant in Lawra and Kaleo, whose combined production is sufficient to meet a significant part of the electricity demand in the Upper West region, will help support local small and medium-sized businesses, as well as improve other -Economic activities.
In addition, the president stressed that it will help reduce transmission losses in the country’s national network and improve the reliability of the distribution system in Lawra and its surroundings.
“I am pleased that the Contractor, in the process of building this plant, employed about 100 people from the communities of the Lawra District.
I hope that people, particularly young people, with the necessary technical skills, will be hired for the operation and maintenance phase of this facility, ”he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued: “It is gratifying to know that the Volta River Authority (VRA) will ensure that this facility becomes a source of practical studies on solar power operations by technical universities in the northern sector regions. of Ghana “.
As part of their corporate social responsibility to the community, both VRA and Elecnor, the project contractor, have committed to providing smaller solar energy installations in support of some specific community installations.
Theses include Lawra Hospital, Municipal Police Command, and an independent system for the Palace of the Supreme Chief of Lawra.
In this regard, the president applauded VRA and Elecnor for their leadership and commitment to the well-being of the people of Lawra.
He congratulated them for delivering the project ahead of schedule despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.
“The people of Ghana are very grateful to the German government for providing the funds of € 22 million for the Project.
“I look forward to the prompt conclusion of the negotiations for the second phase of this Project, the discussions of which are currently underway,” he added.
