The government of Ghana has inaugurated electrification projects in 13 communities in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region, as part of its efforts to expand access to electricity across rural areas of the country.
The beneficiary communities are Zomlampe, Nikpegu, Torope, Dokope, Kpatinyan, Darivogupe, Bagpe, Dawunipe, Diwurupe, Larigbani, Mammudupe, Sankaupe, and Nyinyape.
Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, at the inauguration of the project at Nikpegu, said it formed part of the phase one of his Ministry’s agenda to connect 100 communities in the Central Gonja District to the national grid.
He said the government was working to ensure that a lot more communities in the Savannah Region were connected to the national grid.
He said “With partnership from the Finance Minister, next year, we will launch an ambitious ‘Thank You Project’ using local contractors from the Savannah Region and other parts of the country to undertake more electrification projects. Our goal is to ensure that more people gain access to electricity.”
He emphasised that electricity should not be seen merely as a social project but as a catalyst for development, productivity and job creation, and urged residents to pay their bills regularly, explaining that revenue from these payments were crucial to sustaining power generation.

Dr Jinapor urged the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo) to implement payment plans for consumers with outstanding bills, to make repayment more manageable.
He also pledged support for NEDCo in carrying out its lawful duties while urging mutual respect between the company and consumers.
Mr John Okine Yamoah, the Acting Managing Director of NEDCo, reiterated the need for electricity consumers to pay their bills on time, saying “Power is not free. Consumers must be responsible and pay their bills so that NEDCo can continue to provide reliable power.”
He cautioned residents against tampering with electrical infrastructure such as transformers and meters advising that such issues should be reported to NEDCo through assembly members or opinion leaders.
Mr Idi Kamil, the Presiding Member, Central Gonja District Assembly, thanked the Minister for the projects saying all the newly connected communities were within the Kusawgu Traditional Area.
He said access to electricity would save residents from traveling long distances to places like Sankpala to enjoy basic services.
This development will create jobs and empower our women, who will no longer have to travel far to grind their cereals. The Minister has done a lot; not only with electricity but also in providing water, improving roads, forming women’s groups, and even launching a GHc1 million John Jinapor Educational Fund for these communities,” he said
Alhaji Sumaila Muhammad, the Managing Director of ILA Engineering Company Limited, whose firm executed the project, said work began in 2016 but was delayed due to material shortages.
He said thankfully, they now have all the materials and were able to complete 12 communities and were presently working on the 13th to be completed within just six days.