OSAGYEFO BARGE TO BE OPERATIONAL SOON (PAGE 50)

The Osagyefo Barge, a power generating facility at Effasu/Mangyea in the Jomoro District of the Western Region, is expected to be operational within two months.
According to the Jomoro District Chief Executive, Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, what remains to be done are some operational works, including the erection of high tension electricity poles to enable power from the barge to feed the national grid.
Mr Ackah made the announcement at the second ordinary meeting of the Jomoro District Assembly at Half Assini and expressed the hope that within two months the barge would be activated to augment power supply from the Akosombo Dam.
It is expected to add 450 megawatts of electricity to the national supply.
The first phase of work on the Osagyefo Barge by Balkan Company Limited has already been completed.
That phase involved the construction of residential and office accommodation for the workers, rehabilitation of the barge and other preparatory works deemed necessary for the generation of power.
The second phase, which according to the DCE is almost completed, involves the actual use of the barge to generate electricity.
The project has provided employment for over 100 people in the community, comprising plumbers, electricians, cooks, painters, carpenters and traffic controllers, among others.
Also involved in the project are 12 locally trained technicians and 15 expatriates from the United States of America working directly on the barge.
Touching on the oil discovery in the Western Region, Mr Ackah said even though the discovery was within the geographical reach of the Jomoro District, it would be appreciated if the assembly members as well as the people in the district would avoid making false statements and claims which could blemish the image of the district.
“This is not to say that people in the district should not challenge any information on the oil find that is likely to bring the image of the district into disrepute”, he emphasised.
The district chief executive announced that the assembly realised GH¢31,905.14 from internally generated fund (IGF) during the second quarter of this year and expressed the hope that with prudent measures in place, the assembly would be able to achieve its revenue target of GH¢170, 400.00 for this year.
Mr Ackah noted that the decision by the Jomoro District Assembly to suspend the development of new projects to enable the assembly to complete ongoing projects was yielding positive results.
He pointed out that the number of ongoing development projects had reduced drastically, since the decision was taken about a year ago.
The Presiding Member of the Jomoro District Assembly, Mr Andrew Jos Ehwie, appealed to members of the assembly to assist in ensuring violence-free electioneering in their electoral areas.
He also urged members of the assembly to explain some of the government’s programmes and policies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme, the National Youth Employment Programme and the School Feeding Programme to people in their communities for them to appreciate what the government was doing to push the country forward.