The North Gonja District Assembly was established in Ghana with a Legislative Instrument (LI 2065) of 2012 with it’s Capital in Daboya. The District is divided into three (3) area councils namely: Daboya, Lingbinsi and Mankarigu. Electricity is one of the lowest in the Service and Infrastructural Distribution sector in the District with only 11% coverage.
The Government of H.E Akuffo Addo which is a baby of Property Owning Democratic Ideals believes in empowering and unleashing the economic potentials of the citizenry, has made Electricity and the Energy sector for that matter a major priority area. This is evident in an ambitious target of connecting about 400 communities in the Northern Region into the National Grid in it’s first Four (4) years in office alongside the Pro-Poor and Industry driven Policies and Programs currently been rolled out in the country. Hon. Adam Eliasu Red Bawa ( DCE For North Gonja) took over office among other things with the responsibility of getting a faire share of that cake for the good people of North Gonja in this direction.
In 2017, Hon Red Bawa submitted Five (5) communities to the Ministry for Energy for study and approval in one of his lobbying visits to the National Capital, Accra. He listed Disa, Singa, Tari 1 and Tari 2 after the Ministry’s archives showed Donkompe, Wawato and Gurbagu were in a list of an earlier stalled project in the District. On 18th May, 2018 Hon. Red Bawa yet again submitted Twenty-Six (26) additional communities for study and approval. Engineers from the Ministry visited North Gonja about three (3) times to undertake feasibility and technical works on those communities including the Hanga and Middle Belt Zones which finally got clearance and approval.
Now The Good News:
After Persistent,Painstaking and Vigorous lobbying, Hon. Red Bawa has achieved results by securing Electrical Materials for the execution of work on getting the Mankarigu Zone Connected to the National Grid. At the time of putting this historic and mammoth achievement into writing, two (2) long vehicle trucks carrying the electrical materials are already in Mankarigu Community. It’s historic in a sense that this means more than just electricity for the people. It means a huge relief at long last after a long wait, It represents truth and achievement from a well meaning and generational leader like Hon. Red Bawa who talks very little and does more and it means for the first time in their lives, they’re going to experience electricity in the communities. Amid excitement, jubilation and joy, the people in 2’s and 3’s on motor bikes thronged to Kukayili community waiting anxiously for the arrival of the Hon. DCE in order to honour him with a befitting and rousy welcome into Mankarigu community.
Finally, Hon Red Bawa paid a courtesy call on elders and members of the community and repeated same in Yagbon and Sakpala respectively. In all, work will start in earnest on nine (9) communities including: Yagbon, Mankarigu, Lukula, Mempeasem, Sakpege 1, Sakpege 2, Bugsa, Sakpala and Zepe collectively whiles efforts to get inn materials for communities in the Middle belt, Bawena and Gua continues. He was accompanied and ably supported by NPP constituency executives lead by Alhaj Yahaya Kassim (Chairman), Savannah Regional Chairman hopeful Alhaj Sulemana Iddrisu a.k.a professor Kalamonia and the diminutive Northern Regional NPP communications Director *Mr. Mohammed Issah. God Bless North Gonja And Make Us Great And Strong.
Abubakari Ridwan
(Aide/PRO To Hon Adam Eliasu – DCE NGDA).