From Left : Mr Eson- Benjamin, , chief Executive officer, MiDA, Mahmoud Bah (middle) the Deputy Chief Executive Officer MCC and Ms Khalia Mounsey, Deputy Resident Country Director, MCC.
The United States through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has completed its $316 million investment in Ghana’s energy infrastructure.
In the MCC global portfolio, Ghana becomes one of the few countries that have completed two compacts amounting to nearly $860 million towards projects to boost inclusive economic growth.
In the first $547 million compacts in 2012, the MCC and government raised farmers’ income through the private sector-led Agribusiness development and major public works projects in Accra.
Notable amongst them was the emblematic George W. Bush N1 Highway which is currently benefiting an estimated 1.2 million Ghanaians.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Mahmoud Bah has said the success of the first compact has led Ghana to celebrate the unprecedented milestone of the second $316 million MCC -Ghana Power Compact.
“To ensure that we have reliable electricity to keep the productive work going, the second phase of the compact led to the implementation of a comprehensive program including construction of Bulk Supply Point (BSP) and Substations, investment in soft infrastructures such as IT Management systems, energy efficiency programs, capacity building and gender integration in the power sector.”
He revealed that with the construction of the two BSPs, which are the two largest in the country, two primary substations, and other IT investments, the MCC-Ghana power compact has increased the transmission network capacity by 1, 015 MVA representing 10%of Ghana’s total transmission capacity.
“Through the MCC-Ghana Power Compact, more than 300 female students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) found internship positions at leading energy sector institutions; and over 600 female STEM students participated in mentoring and training for professional growth and development.
Mr. Eson-Benjamin Chief Executive Officer of (MiDA) commended the US Government for proving the funds in executing major projects in the power sector.
He said the MCC-Ghana power compact has successfully improved the country’s power sector through the construction of four power Substations including the Pokuase and Kasoa BSPs, the University of Ghana Medical Centre, and Ellen Moran Primary Substations at Legon and Kanda respectively.
“These new power Substations directly served the 37 military hospitals, the RIDGE Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the National Mosque, and over 800,000 utility customers.”
Adding that, “the compact projects also upgraded the power system in 10 markets in Accra and Tamale.”
Mr. Eson – Benjamin maintained that through the power compact, an Air Conditioner and RefrigeratorTest Laboratory was established for the Ghana Standards Authority, the first of its kind in West Africa which will help enforce standards to eliminate the importation of inefficient appliances that waste energy into the country.
“The compact also supported the installation of more than 14,000 new energy-efficient streetlights with Metered Management Systems replacing old inefficient lighting and setting a new standard for energy savings.
It has also helped develop a curriculum for teaching energy efficiency in schools,” he said.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey