Prez cuts sod for Kaleo, Lawra solar power project

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has cut the sod for the construction of a 17-megawatt (MW) solar power project at Kaleo in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region.

The project, to be completed in nine months at the cost of 23 million euros, will produce enough power for the consumption of about 32,000 households.

It is being implemented by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and funded by the German government.

The project will be sited at two locations; one at Kaleo which will produce 14 MW solar power and will be connected to the 161 KV transmission systems at the GRIDCo substation in Wa and the second one producing four MW power capacity will also be connected to the 34.5KV distribution network at Lawra.

Diversify energy

President Akufo-Addo said the project, coming on the heels of the construction of the Pwalugu Irrigation Dam project, reaffirmed the government's desire to diversify energy production and consumption in the country.

That, he said, was to ensure that the frequent power outage which hit the country sometime ago became a thing of the past.

Being the first of its kind in the region, the President expressed the hope that the project would stimulate socio-economic activities including employment avenues for the youth and bring about an improvement in the lives of many people.

German government

President Akufo-Addo said the project site would also be a place of academic excellence where the students in the tertiary institutions would seek knowledge of the application of solar energy in future.

While commending the German government for the immense contribution to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy generation mix, President Akufo-Addo expressed his utmost gratitude to the chiefs and elders of Kaleo and Lawra for releasing the large plot of land for the project.

The Minister of Energy, Mr John-Peter Amewu, said the project would complement the hydro systems at Akosombo and Kpong.

Efficient energy

The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Christoph Retzlaff, said the project was the effort of the two countries to mitigate the effect of climate change by producing clean and efficient energy.

He pledged his government's commitment to assist Ghana in its quest for rapid growth and development.