GHANA AND WORLD BANK SIGN LOAN AGREEMENT FOR PHASE II OF WEST AFRICA POWER POOL (WAPP).

Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning has noted that as government is making efforts to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the country, consumers should also endeavour to pay the requisite tariff to sustain the industry.

Payments of tariffs on time would enable government purchase more pre-paid metres for the Electricity Company of Ghana for distribution to the general public.

Hon. Minister said this during signing of US $45 million for the second phase of the West Africa Power Pool Project (WAPP) with the new Country Director of the World Bank Mr. Ishac Diwan. Present was the Hon. Minister of State, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei and Deputy Minister of Energy Hon. Twumasi Amporfo.

Minister Baah-Wiredu noted that West Africa has a population of about 250 million projected to reach 380 million by 2020. However, the kilowatt consumption of per capita in the region is the lowest in the world with the exception of Ghana which has over 50% of the population with access to electricity.

In view of this, he said, ECOWAS countries authorized the establishment of WAPP to provide a framework for integrating the national systems of member countries to meet their energy needs.

He commended the World Bank for providing US $350 million to support the project which would not only help in the integrating process but help in reducing poverty in the region as well. The Deputy Minister of Energy Mr. Kwame Ampofo Twumasi in his remarks noted that the energy crises in Ghana could not have occurred if WAPP was operational.

He said WAPP would provide a cooperative power pooling system which will increase electricity access to the people in the sub-region in a reliable and cost effective manner.

The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Diwan said commended Ghana for taking the lead role in regional projects and challenged the VRA to deliver so the population feel the benefits of the project soon.

Mr. Eric Yankah Deputy Chief Executive of the VRA accepted the challenge saying VRA always delivers and appealed to the public to cooperate with the Authority since some transmission lines would pass through private property.

He reiterated the call on the public to pay their tariffs since the loan would have to be repaid on time.

The Phase I of the project is ongoing, Ghana’s second phase of WAPP consists of extension and modernization of the Akosombo Generating Station Switchyard; construction of a 3rd Bulk Supply Point in Accra/Tema load centres; upgrade of VRA’s System Control and Data Acquisition centre at Tema.

It also includes rehabilitation of the Cranes and Penstocks at Akosombo Generating Station; Procurement and installation of modern circuit breakers and relays at the Kpong Generating Station Switchyard; and supply of equipment simulators, training modules and human capacity development at the VRA Training School.

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