Nyafutu gets light after 60 years

The village, with a population of about 200, lies in the Upper Manya District and can only be reached by a canoe. It had been without electricity ever since the people settled there, nearly 60 years ago.

The anticipated short ceremony to hand over the solar lamps to the heterogeneous population, comprising various tribes, nearly turned into a mini-durbar as men, women and children sang and danced to express their joy.

The provision of the 40 lamps by the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly was the first step of the assembly’s initiative to provide the community  a dependable source of energy before they could be connected to the national grid in the near future.

Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, the District Chief Executive, who handed over the lamps to the people, said the assembly was moved by their plight and had to come out first with a “Macedonian help,” adding that the actual electrification of the village would follow in due course.

Other villages which have so far benefitted from the scheme are Subriso, Brukum Kponya, Brukum Tsrebuana and Nyonyem.

The project cost GH¢20,000, out of which the central government provided 70 per cent with the assembly providing the remaining 30 per cent. 

With regard to the provision of other infrastructure, Mr Angmor outlined a number of projects such as the rehabilitation of a school in the area to make it possible for pupils to attend classes.

The Head of the community, Dadematse Agbo Siako, received the items on behalf of the community and thanked the assembly, especially Mr Angmor, for coming to their aid.

He gave the assurance that the lamps would be evenly distributed so that no section of the village would be in darkness.

“We have been in darkness ever since our forefathers settled here nearly 60 years, and we thank you for bailing us out from darkness, ” Dadematse Siako stated.

He appealed to the government to supply them with outboard motors to power canoes for fishing.

The Assembly member for the area, Mr George Agbadam, who facilitated the supply of the lamps, advised the people to take good care of the lamps.