A growing power access crisis in the Upper East Region has come under sharp public attention as Regional Minister Donatus Atanga Akamugre revealed that over 800 communities are yet to be connected to electricity.
Speaking during a Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) stakeholder session in Bolgatanga, the minister expressed deep worry that despite several rural electrification commitments, many communities remain cut off from the national grid, stalling development and limiting basic social services.
According to him, some areas were earmarked under previous rural electrification projects but remain uncompleted due to logistical gaps including unavailable poles, cables, and transformers.
The minister stressed that the situation undermines education, healthcare delivery, business growth and government operations in the region.
He appealed to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and other implementing agencies to expedite ongoing and stalled electrification works, insisting that bridging the electricity access gap is essential to reducing regional inequality and driving economic progress.
Local stakeholders applauded the call, urging government and power companies to prioritize the region, where households and institutions continue relying on generators, solar lamps, and kerosene lanterns to survive.
