I�ll Not Blame Past Govts For Energy Problems � Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has sated that he would not blame previous governments for the current energy crisis. �I will not blame any President or government for the energy problems; l will put all the blame on me, but I can assure you that we are working to solve the energy crisis soon,� he said. President Mahama made the statement when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Dormaa Traditional Area in Dormaa Ahenkro at the weekend, to climax this year�s Dormaa Kwafie Festival, which coincided with the 15th anniversary of the enstoolment of Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II as the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area. The event, which was on the theme: �Anniversary of peace, development and distinguished leadership�, brought together chiefs and people from the traditional area, as well as chiefs from different parts of the country and high-profile personalities and politicians. The Kwafie Festival, which is celebrated every two years, is used to settle all family disputes and grievances to pave the way for the social transformation of the traditional area. Power supply President Mahama said the government was doing its best to resolve the irregular power supply situation. He said in view of that, it had signed contracts with some international energy companies, including General Electric, to generate more power for distribution. The President explained that when the Akosombo Dam was constructed, one out of the six turbines could generate electricity to cover the whole country. But now, he said, the six turbines combined could generate power to meet only 50 per cent of the country�s demand for electricity, explaining that demand for power was now very high, as most members of the public now used many electrical gadgets and appliances. He explained that the country needed to generate 220 megawatts (MW) of electricity every year in order to keep up with the demand for power, adding that power production would have to be increased from 2,800 to 5,000 MW within the next three years. The President also announced that the government had voted money for the development of the Dormaa Campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) next year. He commended the chief of Dormaa for his immense support for the establishment of the campus by donating many building materials and a large tract of land. Road network Touching on roads, President Mahama said the government was working to improve the road network in the Dormaa area, particularly in the cocoa growing areas. He said the government had secured $150 million to finance road construction and improvement in selected regions, including Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and Central. The first phase of the project, he said, would start early next year, while the second phase would start in September 2015. In addition,he said, the government had awarded a contract for the construction of a five-kilometre road in Dormaa Ahenkro to facilitate business activities, while aiding the free movement of vehicular traffic. On the poultry industry, President Mahama said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was working to develop the industry, indicating that veterinary services would be provided in the area to boost poultry production. He disclosed that he had tasked the EDAIF to give out loans to poultry farmers to enable them to expand their farms. Education Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu, for his part, said he would make sure that every child in the area who was of school age was enrolled. He added that education was vital for national development and urged chiefs in the area to take interest in the education of their people.