Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Plant A Step Forward In Providing Sustainable Electricity — President Akufo-Addo
The Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Plant (K1TPP) represents a significant step forward in the government’s quest to provide sustainable electricity for the country, particularly the inhabitants of the Ashanti Region, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.
“Our commitment is to deliver reliable and affordable electricity to drive our nation’s industrialization agenda and position Ghana to become the net exporter of electricity within the ECOWAS region,” he stated.
The President said this when he commissioned the 150MW K1TPP at Anwomaso yesterday, April 17.
In 2022, the VRA announced its intension to relocate the AMERI Power Plant from its Aboadze base in the Western Region to a site adjacent to the GRIDCo’s substation at Anwomaso. The project is intended to improve the reliability and quality of power supply in Kumasi for the middle belt and the northern parts of the country.
Power Generation
Touching on power generation, the President said the government continues to provide significant investment towards the provision of reliable and competitively priced electricity to assure economic growth adding, “This is part of our commitment to realizing the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
He stated: “Our national electrification rate of 88.8% is one of the highest on the continent and the goal is to have full electricity access by the end of this year.”
Gratitude
President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for graciously intervening for the authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to release a portion of their land for the construction of the power project and the gas pipeline infrastructure to benefit the people of the Ashanti Region and the nation as a whole. “I invite domestic and foreign investors to invest by putting up viable commercial structures that will utilize the resources within the middle and northern belt to accelerate the growth and development of the country, “ he added.
Power Challenges
On the current power challenges, the President thanked Ghanaians for the patience exhibited in the face of the difficulties. He assured that the government is working hard to fix the challenges.
Napo chides critics
The Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, chided the opposition for opposing the siting of the project in Kumasi. He called on the people of the Ashanti Region to reward President Akufo-Addo for the project by voting massively for the NPP in this year’s general elections.
Delivering on promises
Dr. Prempeh said, “We have under the leadership of His Excellency the President worked assiduously to deliver on this promise and we have kept faith with the people.”
He added: “As we work to towards the second phase to deliver an additional 100MW in June this year, I congratulate warmly, the VRA who on their own carried out the relocation, reinstallation and repowering of the plant, in a seamless manner. It is a testament of the NPP’s belief in Ghanaian ingenuity and capability.”
Dr. Prempeh said the NPP government remains resolute in the collective vision for a stable, robust and affordable energy sector that will serve as a catalyst for industrial growth and economic prosperity not only in the Ashanti Region but the whole country.
