President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated a 330KV Kumasi – Bolgatanga transmission line; a Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) project at Anwomaso in the Ashanti Region.
The project was funded by a French Development Agency (AFD) facility of US$174million and a European Union grant of €5million dedicated to the project’s management and supervision. Project work commenced in March 2016 and was completed in October 2021.
The project is part of the WAPP regional interconnection project between Ghana and Burkina Faso. It was jointly implemented in Ghana and Burkina Faso by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and SONABEL, enabling the export of 150MW of power to Burkina Faso.
Speaking at the ceremony, the president congratulated GRIDCo for its hard work by contributing to revenue generation for the country, as they will be exporting 200MW of power to Burkina Faso.
Board Chair for GRIDCo, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere said: “This project is a game-changer and a key component in ensuring sustainable and reliable power delivery in Ashanti and other regions of the middle-belt and the north. More importantly, it has enabled GRIDCo to export power to Burkina Faso”.
Chargé d’Affaires A.I. of the French Embassy to Ghana, Raphaël Malara, on his part expressed excitement with his country’s ability to participate in strengthening Ghana’s infrastructure – which is essential to the well-being of Ghanaians and economic development of the country.
“This commissioning is a major achievement for the Ghana, Burkina Faso and France relationship. The project is already starting to have huge benefits for the Ghanaian people by improving reliability and efficiency of power transport and distribution up to Northern Ghana,” he said.
Mr. Malara further revealed that a €10million European Union grant managed by France has been extended for a transmission line project near Kumasi with GRIDCo; and also Team Europe is preparing a programme to support NEDCo and enhance electricity distribution in the north of Ghana.
In a press release, Chief Executive of GRIDCo, Ing. Ebenezer Essienyi, explained that the project allows a reduction of transmission losses, increased transmission capacity, and improved security of electricity supply to Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries.
“GRIDCo is proud to have delivered this complex energy sector project with support from strategic partners which has a direct impact on power supply for Ghanaians, businesses and foreign customers. This transmission line project reinforces and stabilises GRIDCo’s transmission network.
“It also expands access for Ghana’s middle to northern belt, as well as consolidating Ghana’s export of up to 150MW beyond its northern border to Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. I commend all who were involved for their contribution to making this project a reality,” he said.
