Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) emphasises that transmission and distribution lines are as important as electricity generation and should be viewed equally.
The Japanese agency's country representative for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Koji Makino, stated this while on a three-day tour in the Northern Region of Ghana, where there are currently two JICA projects underway.
Ghana Business News reported that Makino assured that his agency will continue to support the building of electricity facilities such as substations, transmission and distribution lines to enable stable and reliable power supply.
According to the media, the JICA representative said they have partnered with government and funded the construction of two primary substations for the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) in Tamale and Sunyani.
The Tamale project is expected to improve power supply to approximately 5,084 existing households customers at the University for Development, Nyankpala Campus, Sheshegu and Tolon and about 3,916 new household customers would also benefit, media reported.
Ghana’s development strategy
During the tour, Makino revealed that JICA has invested $16.4 million in the development mentioned above.
The country representative said the project areas were selected through a dialogue with the government based on Ghana’s development strategy and Japan’s co-operation strategy outlined in the Tokyo International Conference for African Development.
Makino said the agency will continue to provide support for capacity development, policy and institutional capacity improvement as well as social and economic infrastructure, thereby stimulating sustained poverty reduction through equitable growth and human empowerment, media further reported.
Japanese agency behind Nigeria’s energy sector
In other news involving JICA, the Japanese agency recently donated solar power worth $9.7 million aimed at improving Nigeria’s energy supply.
Japanese Ambassador Sadanobu Kusaoke noted: “Since from 1970s, Japan has helped to finance [Nigeria’s] power sector to increase the capacity of power in Kainji dam hydro power station.
“This is the 10th project of power sector by the Japan's government since then and this will not be our last.”
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