Kaleo solar project: Most of the workers used for construction were locals from nearby towns – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that most of the labour used for about 95 per cent of the construction of the Kaleo Solar Power Project were locals from nearby communities.

He said this when he was speaking at the commissioning of the Volta River Authority’s thirteen megawatt (13MW) Solar Power Project, in Kaleo, in the Upper West Region, on Tuesday, 23rd August 2022.

“It completed the first solar plant of 2.5 megawatts in Navrongo way back in 2013. Under this Government, we have successfully completed a 6.5 megawatts solar plant in Lawra, which I personally commissioned. Today, we are here signing-off on this thirteen-megawatt (13MW) addition,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo also revealed to the gathering that the construction of another fifteen-megawatt (15MW) plant has already begun, and funding has been duly secured from the German Development Bank (KFW), and is expected to be completed within one year.

In addition to the Kaleo Project providing several benefits, including, increasing the geographic spread of power generation assets; improving the resilience of the national power system; stabilising voltage levels and reliability of power supply in the Upper West Region; and, ultimately, reducing the nation’s carbon footprint, the President stated that the construction of the new 15MW plant is employing some one hundred and thirty (130) people during the construction phase.

“I am glad to note that most of the workers used for some ninety-five percent (95%) of the construction and operational phase are from the nearby communities. The project will serve as a tourism boost for the Kaleo community, and as a destination for educational and technological field trips in the Region. It will contribute to promoting the advancement of science education, engineering and technological activities in this area, and broaden the career outlook of our young people,” he added.

With this project in the community, President Akufo-Addo was expectant that “corporate social responsibility programmes for Kaleo and neighbouring communities will be enhanced by the appropriate authorities in many forms, including, but not limited to, the rehabilitation of the Kaleo D/A Primary School and the provision of furniture and other critical amenities for the school.”

Source: 3news.com|Ghana