Bushfires undermining electrification project in Nadowli District

The occurrence of bushfires in some communities in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region is hampering the smooth implementation of the Rural Electrification Project.

The China International Water and Electricity Corporation (CWE) which is is executing the project  has complained that seven high tension poles valued at $4,000  have already been burnt down by bushfire thereby incurring an addition cost to the corporation.

The menace of bushfires is likely to cause the delay in the implementation of the project, Mr. Abu Kansangbata, Nadowli District Chief Executive, warned that henceforth chiefs, assembly members and landlords would be held responsible for the burning of poles in their communities.

He said neither the district assembly nor Central Government would pay for the cost of any pole that was burnt by bushfire but the community members themselves whose action had caused the burning of the poles.

Mr. Kansangbata was interacting with members of the Kyang Community after he had inspected progress of work on the project in some of the beneficiary communities in the District.

He appealed to community members to cooperate with the workers and also stop the practice of setting fire to the bush in order not to destroy the good intentions of the Government towards providing social facilities to enhance their livelihoods.

Mr. Harrison Afful, Supervising Consultant representing the Ministry of Energy, pleaded with the people to control bushfires, explaining that CWE was implementing the project on contract and that any additional cost to CWE would be charged to the government.

He advised the people to appreciate the value of the project and the benefit it would bring to their social and economic life and stop bushfires in the communities.

Mr. Yang Gao Lee, an Engineer with CWE , urged the chiefs to appeal to their people to stop the burning of the bush and also help clear around the poles to avoid them catching fire.

He advised them to see the project as their own as it is meant to bring a lot of benefits to them, especially in the areas of cottage industry promotion. Similar interactions were held in the Nyubali, Samatigu and Ombo communities.

Some of the community members complained that the CWE was felling their economic trees such as the shea and dawadawa and appealed to the Government for compensation to enhance their livelihoods.

Source: GNA

Bushfires undermining electrification project in Nadowli District
The occurrence of bushfires in some communities in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region is hampering the smooth implementation of the Rural Electrification Project.
The China International Water and Electricity Corporation (CWE) which is is executing the project  has complained that seven high tension poles valued at $4,000  have already been burnt down by bushfire thereby incurring an addition cost to the corporation.
The menace of bushfires is likely to cause the delay in the implementation of the project, Mr. Abu Kansangbata, Nadowli District Chief Executive, warned that henceforth chiefs, assembly members and landlords would be held responsible for the burning of poles in their communities.
He said neither the district assembly nor Central Government would pay for the cost of any pole that was burnt by bushfire but the community members themselves whose action had caused the burning of the poles.
Mr. Kansangbata was interacting with members of the Kyang Community after he had inspected progress of work on the project in some of the beneficiary communities in the District.
He appealed to community members to cooperate with the workers and also stop the practice of setting fire to the bush in order not to destroy the good intentions of the Government towards providing social facilities to enhance their livelihoods.
Mr. Harrison Afful, Supervising Consultant representing the Ministry of Energy, pleaded with the people to control bushfires, explaining that CWE was implementing the project on contract and that any additional cost to CWE would be charged to the government.
He advised the people to appreciate the value of the project and the benefit it would bring to their social and economic life and stop bushfires in the communities.
Mr. Yang Gao Lee, an Engineer with CWE , urged the chiefs to appeal to their people to stop the burning of the bush and also help clear around the poles to avoid them catching fire.
He advised them to see the project as their own as it is meant to bring a lot of benefits to them, especially in the areas of cottage industry promotion. Similar interactions were held in the Nyubali, Samatigu and Ombo communities.
Some of the community members complained that the CWE was felling their economic trees such as the shea and dawadawa and appealed to the Government for compensation to enhance their livelihoods.
Source: GNA