The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin says his outfit is set to construct two primary substations in Kanda and Legon to improve power supply in the country.
The cost of the two Substations is estimated at US$11.3 million and will be funded by Millennium Challenge Corporation as part of the US$308 million Compact II grant provided by the Government of the USA and the US$23.2 million Counterpart funds by the Government of Ghana.
The move is to help reduce technical losses at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
When constructed, the two projects, he explained, will provide reliable power supply to the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the 37 Military Hospital and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
This, again he mentioned, forms part of the implementation of the Power Compact programme signed between the Government of Ghana and the United State Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), some years ago.
Kick-off meeting
In line with this, a ‘kick-off meeting’ was held on February 20th and 21st, to signify the readiness of all the parties including the Project Contractor, Eiffage Ghana Ltd, towards the commencement of the project.
Issues relating to the project were dispassionately discussed, including the implementation timelines towards the realisation of the completion deadline of August 2021.
The CEO, Mr Eson-Benjamin further explained that the primary substations will fill the infrastructure gap, which has been pointed out by experts as the solution to the perennial power supply challenges faced by the beneficiary health facilities.
He added that the Primary Substation interventions could be considered “as a health-driven infrastructure initiative”, adding that the Substations are “critical assets in the promotion of quality healthcare for Ghanaians”.
Expected outcome
The Legon Primary Substation will improve electricity supply to the University of Ghana and its surrounding communities, especially to the newly constructed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
The Kanda Primary Substations, on the other hand, will improve power supply to the 37 Military Hospital and Greater Accra Regional Hospital upon completion.
The health facilities and the neighbouring communities will experience significant improvements in the quality of power supplied to institutions and homes.
In addition to this, MiDA will also construct a 16 unit three-bed Apartment Block at Kanda for the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Deputy Resident Country Director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ms Feleke, for her part, said the US Government and Ghanaian authorities, providing funding for the primary substations have huge expectations of the project.
