First phase of Drobonso electrification project completed

The first phase of an electrification project at Drobonso, the capital of Sekyere Afram Plains, has been completed. This was made possible through efforts of the Ministry of Energy to connect people in the newly created district to the national grid. Under the first phase of the project, only streetlights have been connected to the national grid, while the second phase, yet to be started, would be the wiring of the various households and installation of electric metres. A 14.2 km stretch of electric poles wiring commenced on September 15, 2013 and was completed on December 15, 2013. The Resident Engineer, Mr Kwadwo Asare of the Wilkins Engineering, told the Daily Graphic that power was connected from Deduako near Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region to Drobonso. At a ceremony at Drobonso, both the Member of Parliament for Sekyere Afram Plains, Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah, and the District Chief Executive, Mr Donkor Fuseini, were assisted by the Dronbonsohene, Nana Dwamena Dankwa Dwubisiaw, to inaugurate the first phase of the project. He pledged his support for the electrification project at Drobonso, as that was his place of abode, and called on the government to quicken efforts to commence the second phase, when electricity would be extended to the various households.

After the inauguration, the street lights would be working for about two weeks after which they would be disconnected to avoid the situation whereby residents could indulge in illegal wiring. The MP indicated that only three districts in the country including Sekyere Afram Plains had benefited from the government's rural electrification project. He further indicated that the project was approved in May 2013 to allow rural communities to be hooked on to the national grid. He said light was life, and asked the people of Drobonso, particularly schoolchildren, to take advantage of the streetslights to learn and improve their academic lives. The DCE, for his part, said the assembly was quickening efforts to collaborate with ECG to begin the second phase of the project as soon as possible. He said of the 1,500 households, about 800 of the residents had paid or registered their electric metres, and called on others who had not registered to do so in time. He said the assembly would liaise with the ECG to help educate the people on the use of electricity in their various homes. He however, advised the people to guard against illegal connection within the period.