ECG Leads ECOWAS Energy Protocol

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) made history on Friday when it became the first company in the West African sub-region to pioneer the supply of power to villages on the borders of neighbouring countries. The project, which falls under the ECOWAS Energy Protocol (EEP) and signed in 2003 by Heads of state in the sub-region, endorses the creation of an energy pool by which member countries could tap into and utilize for the benefit of their citizens. Under the project, whose implementation started in the middle of 2009 and completed in October 2010, 17 towns and villages in Togo would enjoy regular power supply from Ghana. Some of the beneficiary communities include Batoume, Yorkutikope, Ablame, Sassanou, Ahlon Bogo, Danyi Dzogbegan and Danyi Mempeasem. Others include Danyi Elavanyo, Wotrofe, Danyi Dafo, Danyi Apeyeme, Kpete Bena, Mempeasem, Tomegbe/Akloa, Webe, Anonoe and Badou. �For the whole of the 17 villages, power demand is only 2 megawatts. This, juxtaposed with a community in Ghana like Dansoman whose capacity is 60 megawatts, is nothing to write home about,� Anthony Gyampoe, Acting Managing Director of ECG noted in an interview with Daily Guide. Explaining why Ghana has opted to sell power to Togo under the project while its citizens cannot boast of adequate and uninterrupted power supply, Mr. Gyampoh noted that the problem with Ghana�s power supply has nothing to do with its production but rather distribution bottlenecks. �Ghana, with about 70 percent rural electrification penetration, boasts of the highest among its peers in West Africa. So, with the agreement stipulating that one side of the border could supply or extend power to the other side to enhance socio-economic development, ECG had to take advantage of the situation.� He said Ghana has enough energy resources that could be exploited by Togo and Ivory Coast, adding that the West Africa Gas Pipeline and the Bui Dam, which is yet to be commissioned, among others, would make energy supply abundant in Ghana. �It is under this protocol too that the West African Power Pool (WAPP) was commissioned to supply gas from Nigeria across other West African states and the Cross Border Electrification Project agreed upon between member-countries,� he expatiated. Ghana, as part of the deal, will also extend power to the southern part of Ivory Coast. The Volta River Authority (VRA) is expected to extend power to the northern borders of Togo, Burkina Faso and the northern parts of Ivory Coast. The project costs 3.6 million Euros and is funded by the ACP-EU, Energy Facility, ECG and CEEP/CEB. The Electricity Company of Togo will do the distribution of the energy. While Mr Gyampoh endorsed the agreement on behalf of ECG, Foli-Bati Katari, Deputy Director General of Togo�s Electricity Company, initialled for his outfit. �ECG is expecting Ivory Coast to seek funding for its cross-border electrification project.�