Akufo-Addo commissions Solar Power Project in Kaleo
His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo has today commissioned a Volta River Authority’s thirteen megawatts (13MW) Solar Power Project in Kaleo in the Upper West Region.
The project is expected to reach a twenty-eight megawatts (28MW) capacity after completion as the 13MW is the first phase of it.
Speaking at the ceremony today, Tuesday, 23rd August Nana Addo stated that Ghana is heading toward the attainment of her Nationally Determined Contributions, as presented at COP26 in Glasgow, in the United Kingdom.
He said “government has invested heavily in the electricity transmission network, which will enable us to evacuate more renewable energy through the national grid, to support the extension of electricity to all parts of Ghana. For this reason, Kaleo has a dedicated transmission line that evacuates power from the current and future solar capacity at Kaleo to the GRIDCo substation at Wa. At peak sun hours, the Kaleo and Lawra plants can meet the entire load at Wa and its environs. This can make Wa the greenest city in Ghana. The completion of the Kaleo Solar Power Plant is consistent with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions to addressing the effects of climate change”.
He reiterated that these projects are “part of our development trajectory, to bring some of these sources closer to the North, thereby opening up additional opportunities in our regional development journey”.
Mr Akufo-Addo was grateful to the Volta River Authority for the success chalked in improving access to electricity in the northern parts of the country.
“It completed the first solar plant of 2.5 megawatts in Navrongo way back in 2013. Under this Government, we have successfully completed a 6.5 megawatts solar plant in Lawra, which I personally commissioned. Today, we are here signing off on this thirteen-megawatt (13MW) addition,” he said.
“I am glad to note that most of the workers used for some ninety-five percent (95%) of the construction and operational phase are from the nearby communities. The project will serve as a tourism boost for the Kaleo community, and as a destination for educational and technological field trips in the Region. It will contribute to promoting the advancement of science education, engineering and technological activities in this area, and broaden the career outlook of our young people,” he concluded.
By: Agaatorne Douglas Asaah | myactiveonline.com
