President Akufo-Addo urges private sector to capitalize on Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Plant

Ghanaian

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated the first phase of the Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Plant (K1TPP) in the Ashanti Region, emphasizing the need for private sector involvement to drive industrialization and economic development in the area.

He highlighted Kumasi's reputation as a hub for businesses and urged private enterprises to take advantage of the government's

Read full articleinvestments in the power sector to harness reliable electricity supply for their operations.

The K1TPP, which is the decommissioned Ameri Power Plant relocated to Kumasi, has a capacity of 150 megawatts (MW) in its first phase.

President Akufo-Addo described the commissioning as a testament to the government's commitment to providing sustainable electricity for the entire nation, aiming to position Ghana as a net exporter of electricity in the ECOWAS region.

Currently, Ghana's national electrification rate stands at around 88.8 percent, one of the highest on the continent. The President reiterated the government's goal to achieve full electricity access by the end of the year, underscoring the importance of reliable power supply for driving industrialization and economic growth.

President Akufo-Addo commended the Volta River Authority (VRA) for its role in decommissioning and reassembling the plant, using local expertise. He praised Ghanaian engineers and publicly owned institutions for their ability to find engineering solutions that contribute to the nation's development.

In his appreciation, the VRA Board Chairman, Kofi Tutu Agyare, thanked key stakeholders, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), for their support in releasing the land for the project.

Mr. Agyare emphasized VRA's commitment to supporting other institutions, including technical universities, to develop additional infrastructure and skills, thereby transforming the power enclave into a significant engineering destination.