The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned a 6.5-megawatt solar power plant in Lawra in the Upper West Region on Saturday, 10th October 2020.

In February this year, the President, in Kaleo, cut the sod for the construction of two solar power plants projects. The power plants are in the Western Region; Kaleo and Lawra. The projects are aimed at reducing transmission losses on the country’s national grid and improve the reliability of the distribution system in Lawra.

As part of their corporate social responsibility, the Project Contractors, Volta River Authority (VRA) and Elecnor, will provide smaller installations of solar power as back-up power to some facilities in the community including Lawra Hospital, Municipal Police Command, and a stand-alone system to the Lawra Paramount Chief’s palace.

The president applauded the contractors for their efforts to the welfare of the people of Lawra and their timeliness in the delivery of the projects despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was confident that the combined output of both plants will not only improve electricity in the Upper West Region but will help support small and medium scale enterprises in the region.

Excerpts from the President’s remarks during the commissioning:

“I indicated, at the time, that, once completed, these two projects will deliver a combined power supply of about twenty 20 megawatts to the national grid. Eight (8) months on, I am happy to commission the first of the power projects which has been completed, and that is the 6.5-megawatt Solar Power Project, here in Lawra.”

“The completion of this project in Lawra should remind all of us that the Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivers on its promises.”

“As I indicated at the sod cutting ceremony, this solar plant is the first of its kind ever to be established in the Upper West Region. This means the Upper West Region has now its fair share of power generation facilities in the country.”

“I am pleased that the Contractor, in the process of constructing this plant, employed some one hundred (100) people from communities within the Lawra District. I am expectant that persons, particularly the youth, with the requisite technical skills, would be recruited for the operation and maintenance phase of this facility.”

“It is gratifying to learn that the Volta River Authority (VRA) will ensure that this facility becomes a source for practical studies on solar power operations by Technical Universities in the Regions of the northern sector of Ghana.”

“The Ghanaian people are very grateful to the German Government for providing the twenty-two million-euro funds for the Project. I look forward to the early conclusion of the negotiations for the second phase of this Project, whose discussions are currently ongoing.”