Upper West Region: Akufo-Addo commissions Lawra solar power plant

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned a 6.5-megawatt (6,5MW) solar power plant on Saturday 10 October 2020 in Lawra, in the Upper West Region.

It will be recalled that on 4 February this year, the president was in Kaleo, in the Nadowli District, to cut the sod for construction of two solar power projects, one in Kaleo and the other Lawra, both in the Upper West.

“I indicated at the time that, once completed, these two projects will deliver a combined power supply of about 20MW to the national grid. Eight months on, I am happy to commission the first of the power projects which has been completed, and that is the 6.5MW solar power project here in Lawra,” Akufo-Addo said.

The ceremony, he said, reaffirms the government’s commitment to diversifying the country’s energy generation portfolio, and thereby help increase the renewable energy component of our energy mix and contribute to our fight against the effects of climate change.

“The completion of this project in Lawra should remind all of us that the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivers on its promises,” Akufo-Addo said.

Job opportunities

The president said, “As I indicated at the sod-cutting ceremony, this solar plant is the first of its kind ever to be established in the Upper West Region. This means the Upper West Region has now its fair share of power generation facilities in the country.”

He was confident that the solar plants in Lawra and Kaleo. whose combined output is sufficient to meet a significant portion of electricity demand in the Upper West, will help support local small and medium-sized enterprises, and enhance other socio-economic activities.

The president stressed that furthermore, the projects will help reduce transmission losses on our national grid and improve the reliability of the distribution system in Lawra and its environs.

“I am pleased that the contractor, in the process of constructing this plant, employed some 100 people from communities within the Lawra District. I am expectant that persons, particularly the youth, with the requisite technical skills, would be recruited for the operation and maintenance phase of this facility,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo continued, “It is gratifying to learn that the Volta River Authority (VRA) will ensure that this facility becomes a source for practical studies on solar power operations by technical universities in the regions of the northern sector of Ghana.”

Back-up for key institutions

In line with their corporate social responsibility to the community, both VRA and Elecnor, the project contractor, have undertaken to provide smaller installations of solar power as back-up power to particular facilities in the community.

These are Lawra Hospital, the Municipal Police Command, and a standalone system to the Lawra paramount chief’s palace.

The president applauded VRA and Elecnor for their leadership and commitment to the welfare of the people of Lawra, and thanked them for delivering the project ahead of schedule in spite of the challenges posed by COVID-19.

“The Ghanaian people are very grateful to the German government for providing the €22 million funds for the project.

“I look forward to the early conclusion of the negotiations for the second phase of this project, whose discussions are currently ongoing,” he said.

Click on the link to listen to President Akufo-Addo speaking in Lawra.

Wilberforce Asare / Asaase Radio

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