Mr Alexander Blankson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akrofuom, has commissioned an electrification project for nine communities under the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP-5) Rural Electrification. The move, according to the MP, was in fulfilment of a campaign promise made to the people ahead of the 2020 general election. The MP said prior to the election, he was able to connect eight communities onto the national grid, contributing to the revival of the local economies of beneficiary communities. The communities are Grumesa, Benkumhene, Kofigyame, Asiedukrom, Car owner, Akwaako, Agya Atta, Botwekrom and Dunkwafuom. Notwithstanding the exhaustive process in extending electricity to other communities, Mr Blankson said he never relented in his efforts to provide power to his people. 'It took me four years to get this done. It wasn't easy but I had to lobby as a Vice Chair of the Mines and Energy Sub Committee, to get this project to the nine beneficiary communities,' he said. He explained the importance of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) recently launched to improve bad roads in various constituencies, stressing that the equipment would soon arrive. The MP, who is contesting again on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said he was expecting not less than 70 per cent of the popular votes having delivered on his mandate. He faces stiff competition from David Azumah of the National Democratic Congress, who has vowed to snatch the seat from the NPP for the first time. Dr Maurice Jonas Woode, the District Chief Executive, said only 10 communities had access to electricity when the district was created in 2018, disclosing that the connection to the nine communities brought the total number to 42. Nana Baffour Akoto, Odikro of Grumesa, a beneficiary community, expressed excitement for the project and commended the MP and the DCE for collaborating effectively for the development of the district. He, however, appealed to them to attend to other pressing needs, which included fi xing the deplorable road network. Source: Ghana News Agency