The $39-million (about GH¢170 million) project, located off the Graphic Road, is being funded by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Hitachi Plant Construction Limited is carrying out the construction work, which is expected to be completed by October 31, 2018.

When completed, the 161/34.5 kilovolts (KV) facility will extend an adequate amount of energy to meet the huge energy demand in the CBD.

The dual power lines facility will also accommodate some load from the Achimota and the Mallam sub-stations.

Sod cutting

The Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, cut the sod yesterday for the commencement of work on the sub-station located opposite the premises of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL).

The minister was assisted by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GRIDCo, Mr William Amuna; the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Samuel Boakye Appiah; the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Naoto Nikai, and  Japanese and Ghanaian officials.

Key intervention

Mr Agyarko lauded the immense contribution of the Japanese government to the power sector, adding that the project was timely, considering that Ghana was exploring all avenues to build a robust power sector.

“This is a landmark project because, as I understand it, the facility will eliminate the power hardship of the most significant business population of our national capital where power consumption is concentrated.

“The project will facilitate the government’s desire to provide secure and reliable energy supply for our industrial sector to solve the multiplicity of problems that are connected with erratic power supply,” he said.

The Energy Minister observed that the successful completion of the project would not only create an opportunity for businesses to cut down cost but also create employment opportunities.

He called on GRIDCo and the ECG to collaborate with the construction firm to ensure that the facility was completed on schedule.

“The government is restructuring the debts of utility companies as part of a comprehensive initiative to empower them to generate and distribute power efficiently,” Mr Agyarko said, stressing that it was important for the public to be prudent in the management of energy resources.

Prudence

For his part, Mr Amuna observed that the location of the project was strategic, given that the CBD alone accounted for 30 per cent of power consumption in the Greater Accra Region.

“The load growth in the CBD is higher than the national average of 10 per cent annually. So on completion, electricity consumers in Accra Central and GRIDCo will reap the benefits,” he said.

He asked power consumers to be modest in the use of electricity as the utility companies made efforts to improve supply. 

Mr Nikai observed that Japan invested in Ghana’s power sector because the sector held the key to the development of the economy, saying energy supply affected all sectors that Japan supported Ghana in, such as agriculture.

He expressed the hope that the project would strengthen the long-term relationship between Ghana and Japan.