6 COMMUNITIES TO ENJOY ELECTRICITY (PAGE 20)

SIX rural communities in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region are to be connected to the national grid by the end of this month under the fourth phase of the Self Help Electrification Project (SHEP 4).
The communities are Akyempim, Ateiku, Kubekro, New Subri, Old Subri and Nsadweso.
The government has provided electricity cables, transformers and other accessories for the project, while Golden Star (Wassa Mine) Limited, has also spent about US$200,000 to provide the communities with low and high tension poles.
Wiring of the communities has been completed, while meters are being installed in the houses of people who have paid for them to enable electricity to be extended to the various homes.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr A.E. Amoah, who inspected the project to acquaint himself with the progress of work, said the project would be completed and inaugurated by the end of July, this year.
He said the completion of the project would improve the living conditions of the people in the beneficiary communities and also facilitate the establishment of local industries to generate more income.
Mr Amoah regretted that out of the 228 rural communities in the region only about 12 of them had been hooked to the national grid, adding that by the end of this year, the number would be increased to about 22.
He explained that the Akyempim, Kubekro and Nsadweso communities were not under the project but since the mining company had assisted them to erect poles, the Regional Co-ordinating Council had to appeal to the government to put them under the project.
He said steps were being taken to add Atobiase, Dwenease and Akutuase to the project.
The Chief of Kubekro, Nana Kwabena Atobrah, said everybody in the community was happy about the completion of the project and commended the government for the extension of electricity to the area.
He said 65 people in the town had paid GH¢5 each for the installation of meters in their houses.
The Administration and Human Resource Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mine), Mr Paul Essah, advised the house owners to ensure that their houses were wired by certified electricians to avoid any fire outbreak.
The Chief of Old Subri, Nana Kojo Kru, said about 100 meters had been fixed in the various houses.
He said the people needed the electricity for the establishment of local industries to create employment for the local people towards poverty alleviation in the area.
The Assembly Member for Ateiku, Mr Stephen Mensah Kwofie, said 400 people had paid for the installation of meters in their houses.
He appealed to the regional minister to provide the town with 15 electric poles for the extension of power to the local clinic.