The Government of Ghana has launched a rural electrification initiative to connect 159 underserved communities in the Savannah Region to the national electricity grid by the end of 2026 under its “Big Push” infrastructure programme.
The Rural Electricity Intensification Project (REIP), being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, was officially launched on Tuesday, with eight communities in the West Gonja Municipality simultaneously connected to the national grid.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Deputy Minister, Hon. Richard Gyan-Mensah said the project is a key component of President John Mahama’s Big Push agenda, which seeks to expand electricity access to rural and underserved communities.
He said extending electricity to these areas is expected to stimulate economic activity, improve healthcare and education services, and strengthen security.
According to Hon. Gyan-Mensah, Ghana has achieved an electricity access rate of approximately 90%, making it one of Africa’s leading countries in electrification. However, he noted that several rural communities remain without power, with the government targeting universal electricity access by 2030.
He disclosed that GH¢2 billion has been allocated under the first phase of the Big Push programme for electricity expansion across the Savannah, Central, Oti and Volta regions.
Of that amount, more than GH¢600 million has been earmarked for the Savannah Region, where 107 communities are expected to be connected through ongoing contracts.
Hon. Gyan-Mensah added that additional communities will receive electricity through the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP), increasing the total number of beneficiary communities in the region to more than 159.
He estimated electricity coverage in the Savannah Region at between 50% and 60%, adding that several communities are also expected to benefit from the government’s ongoing solar street lighting programme.
Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Be-Awurebi said the initiative would address longstanding electricity access challenges in the Eastern Gonja area while expanding power supply across the region. He described the project as part of the government’s broader efforts to extend essential infrastructure to underserved communities.
Member of Parliament for Damongo, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, said work to connect the initial eight communities began in 2023 and has now been completed under the current administration. He noted that reliable electricity is critical for improving living standards, supporting businesses, enhancing healthcare and education, and driving local economic development.
Hon. Jinapor also commended the bipartisan cooperation that contributed to the project’s completion, saying collaboration across political lines ultimately benefits communities.
Residents welcomed the arrival of electricity, describing it as a major improvement in their quality of life. One beneficiary, Leticia, said residents previously had to travel to Sawla to charge their mobile phones but can now do so in their own homes, adding that electricity would also create new opportunities for businesses and young people in the community.