Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-04-09 07:03:07
The partnership between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Genser Energy, a Ghanaian energy company operating in the Western Region, has led to significant improvements in power supply to 58 communities in the region. Through this collaboration, overgrown vegetation along ECG transmission lines has been cleared, resulting in a 50% increase in power reliability in the Western Region.
Genser Energy identified that overgrown trees and plantations under ECG lines were causing interruptions to power supply in the Western Region and the 58 communities. An assessment conducted earlier this year revealed numerous trees and plantations within the allowable distance of the transmission lines, posing a risk to power supply. The removal of these high-risk trees not only enhances the reliability of electricity supply to essential facilities but also contributes to the overall stability of Ghana’s national grid.
To address this issue, ECG partnered with Genser Energy to clear vegetation under its lines that were disrupting power supply to the 58 communities reliant on electricity transmitted through these lines. Over 200 stakeholders, including traditional leaders, local assembly members, and Project Affected Persons (PAPs), were engaged to ensure community participation and support for the project.
Under the supervision of Genser Energy’s Construction Superintendent, Stephen Ayisi, teams selectively trimmed branches and removed high-risk trees threatening the transmission lines. Since the clearing of the overgrown vegetation, communities in the Western Region have experienced an improvement in power supply. There has been a significant 50% reduction in power surges that previously caused power cuts in these communities between January and March this year due to the cleared vegetation along the lines.
Nana Twumasi Ampaakwaw II, the Chief of Wassa Old Subri, expressed deep concern about the encroachment of trees near transmission lines in his community. He highlighted the fear of power outages caused by fallen trees and emphasized the progressive threat these trees posed to the community’s power supply. Justice Kofi Yeboah, a PAP from Accra Town, expressed gratitude to ECG and thanked Genser Energy for providing employment opportunities and improving community safety.
Overall, the partnership between ECG and Genser Energy has demonstrated tangible benefits for the Western Region and its communities. By addressing the issue of overgrown vegetation along transmission lines, the project has significantly enhanced power reliability, reduced power surges, and improved community safety. This collaborative effort serves as a testament to the positive impact that public-private partnerships can have on infrastructure development and electricity supply in Ghana.
Read the original article on Ghanaian Times
