District Chief Executive for Kasena-Nankana West, Stephen A-eke Akurugo, has taken a swipe at the former Akufo-Addo-led government, accusing it of neglecting the district’s electricity needs during its entire 8-year tenure.
Speaking on Breakfast Today last Wednesday on Bolgatanga-based Dreamz Fm, Mr. Akurugo claimed that not a single household in the district benefited from electricity extension under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
“For the 8 years, they have not added. They came and met the rural electrification programme done by the NDC but didn’t continue it,” he lamented.
According to the DCE, the abandonment of the electrification project has left many communities in darkness, forcing residents to improvise with dangerous connections using wooden poles.
He noted this has not only hindered economic activity but also worsened insecurity and poor academic performance in the area.
“People now get their own sticks or poles and just connect lights. They need light to work,” he added.
Akurugo pledged to revive the electrification initiative, emphasizing his commitment to improving infrastructure across the district.
He also bemoaned the state of roads and broken bridges that have remained unattended for years, affecting transport and trade.
The DCE revealed plans to adopt pro-agriculture policies from the Mahama administration to boost food production, the mainstay of the district’s economy.
Enhancing education by expanding and upgrading school facilities is also among his top priorities.
“We must give the people the basic tools they need to live, learn and earn. Electricity, roads, and schools are not luxuries—they’re rights,” he stressed.