Residents of Dzogbe Kofe, Brafoaso and Tsortorme in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region, have appealed to the government to connect their communities to the national electricity grid, to improve their living conditions and stimulate socio-economic development.
They said the prolonged absence of reliable electricity was negatively affecting economic activities, education, healthcare, communication, and other aspects of life in these communities.
The residents made the appeal when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited Dzogbe Kofe, to ascertain the challenges confronting the communities.
They said although solar power lights had been provided to support some basic electricity needs, the systems were currently malfunctioning, leaving residents with limited access to power.
Mrs Vida Dali, a petty trader and resident of Dzogbe Kofe, said the absence of electricity had made life difficult for residents, particularly those engaged in small-scale businesses.
She said traders and other residents could not effectively operate certain businesses, while households were also compelled to rely on alternative sources of lighting.
Mrs Dali said the solar energy system provided to the community was also not functioning properly, worsening the situation.
“We need electricity badly because its absence is affecting our economic and social activities,” she said.
She appealed to the government and other stakeholders to prioritise the extension of the national electricity grid to these communities to enable residents to improve their livelihoods.
Mr Korsi Akutsa, another resident, expressed similar concerns and appealed for urgent action to address the situation.
He said access to electricity would create opportunities for businesses, improve communication, and enhance the general well-being of residents.
Mr Akutsa said the communities had remained without reliable electricity for a long time and called on the authorities to consider their plight.
Miss Berlinda Gali, a Primary Five pupil at Dzogbe Kofe, said the absence of electricity was also affecting the education of children in the community.
She said pupils found it difficult to study at night, particularly when they had assignments or examinations to prepare for.
“The absence of electricity makes it difficult for us to learn at night, and this affects our academic performance,” she said.
Miss Gali appealed to the government to provide electricity to the community to enable pupils to study under better conditions and improve their academic performance.
The residents said connecting the communities to the national grid would not only provide them with reliable power but also help attract investment, support small businesses and improve educational and social services.
They therefore called on the government, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akan Constituency, Ing. Yao Gomado, the Kadjebi District Assembly and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate to extend electricity to the communities.