Ghana: $64.7m energy infrastructure investment inaugurated
The Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) in Accra funded by the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and constructed under the MCC-Ghana Power Compact programme has been inaugurated by President Akufo-Addo and US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan.
The Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) represents a flagship investment under the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Ghana Power Compact and is expected to reduce outages in the power system, help stabilize voltages, and improve the quality and reliability of power supplied to the northern parts of the capital city of Accra.
It is also to help reduce technical losses in the power transmission and distribution system, contributing to the financial viability of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) in the long term.
The Pokuase BSP is now the largest-capacity BSP in Ghana at 580 megavolt amperes (MVA) and will directly benefit 350,000 utility customers.
Commissioning the project on Wednesday, the President stated that the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point, whose construction commenced in February 2019, “is the fourth Bulk Supply Point in Accra, it is the first 330kV Bulk Supply Point in the capital, and it is the most technologically advanced substation in Ghana.”
“The essence of constructing the sub-station is to improve power supply quality and reliability to some 350,000 existing customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Pokuase, Kwabenya, Legon, Nsawam and neighbouring communities,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “It is also planned to reduce significantly technical losses in the Ghana Grid Company’s (GRIDCo) transmission system and the ECG power distribution system, ultimately contributing to improving their financial viability.”
“Completion of this portion of the Kumasi/Bolgatanga transmission line project will ease the load on Kumasi sub-stations, and become the instrument of power transmission within the Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions, and in parts of northern Ghana. In addition to this is the ongoing Tema to Accra transmission line upgrade project to accommodate an increase from 61KV capacity to 330KV capacity,” he added.
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Also speaking at the inauguration of the Pokuase BSP was Ambassador Sullivan who stated that, “The Pokuase Bulk Supply Point represents sustainable infrastructure investment by the United States with Ghana that will benefit hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians now and into the future.
“It will help deliver more reliable power to the people, places, and businesses of Accra that drive increased economic activity benefitting families, businesses, and communities,” she added.
The Government of Ghana implemented the project through the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA).
The Pokuase BSP is the first major construction project to be completed under the Ghana Power Compact. The $316 million compact is helping the Government of Ghana improve the power sector through investments that will provide more reliable and affordable electricity to Ghana’s businesses and households.
The compact is also funding a BSP at Kasoa and two primary substations at Kanda and Legon, in addition to other power sector investments, energy efficiency programs, and women’s empowerment programs within the power sector. The compact program will officially close on June 6, 2022.
