Institutional Framework for Sustainable Electricity Supply in Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East Municipality

Abstract

Electricity plays an integral role in the socio-economic development of people around the world. Its access has immense impact in reducing poverty and increasing the Human Development Index (HDI) of beneficiaries. Enhanced access to electricity also reduces the dependence on fossil energy sources such as fuel wood and charcoal, whose consumption depletes the natural forests. With adequate access to electricity, deforestation tendencies that are associated with the use of fossil energy in homes are cut down to appreciable levels. Electricity service has a normal market with both demand side actors and supply side actors. Demand side actors include consumers while the supply includes a combination of generation, transmission, and distribution. The market is however, created, governed and regulated by institutions. Institutions therefore play a central role in the efficiency of electricity service market. The focus of study was therefore to assess the institutional framework supporting electricity supply in the Awutu Senya East Municipality (ASEMA). ASEMA is one of the 45 new districts and municipalities that were created under LI (2045) 2012 but has unique features. It is a municipality serving as a major peri-urban settlement for the capital city, Accra. It records high population growth rates and is bustling with active economic activity. It is also about 95% urban. The study therefore sought to find out how the institutions are being organized to provide efficient service to the growing population of the Municipality with concentration on development planning of the District. This was undertaken through qualitative research using key informants and focused group discussions. The study established that development planning is mainly the responsibility of the municipal assembly but is required to be participatory and all-inclusive as much as possible. It also found out that Electricity Company of Ghana is the main electricity service provider in the municipality with a designated district office managing its activities. However, there was weak collaboration between the assembly and ECG in the district in the development process. Furthermore, plans of the different agencies are not coordinated and hence development implementation is as well uncoordinated. In relation to electricity service provision, consumers face rampant power outages and low current levels because of the failure on the part of the institutions to work in synergy to address demands of consumers. The research therefore, suggests the initiation and establishment of strategies to foster strong collaboration among institutions and further coordinate plans into a holistic composite activity plan for the municipality.