The STEMinist Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, through its Energy Justice Campaign, is pushing the government to honor its promise to provide electricity to island communities affected by the construction of the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam.
This follows an agreement signed in 2020 with the African Development Fund to construct 35 solar mini-grids for the identified communities along the Volta Lake.
Residents in these communities sacrificed their livelihoods and habitats for a national course and had to resettle on isolated islands in the enclave.
For over 64 years, these residents, whose forebearers gave up their settlement for the production of electricity, have yet to have their communities connected to the national grid.
Women in these communities who survive on fish mongering continue to bear the brunt of the unavailability of electricity to help preserve their fish.
Healthcare systems are crippled by the lack of proper refrigeration, and children struggle to study after sunset, severely hindering their education and the progress of these settlements.
In this regard, the Energy Justice Campaign seeks to demand immediate action for these communities to be provided electricity, aligning with the country’s goal of achieving universal energy access by 2030.
A facilitator of the initiative, Bernice Densu, said the campaign involves training women to be advocates for basic rights and impress on the authorities to honor their promise of providing them electricity.
She said the advocates are empowered to call for the rapid deployment of promised solar mini-grids and, the inclusion of local voices in energy project decision-making processes and addressing the unique challenges women face in accessing energy.
She expressed her delight in how the women have heeded the call to action, promising to take up the task and lead the development agenda of their community.
A lead advocate, Ellen Dugbakuor Kugblenu, shared their challenges and how their excluded from the rest of the country by not enjoying what is due to them.
She emphasized the importance of the initiative, promising to mobilize community leaders to champion the campaign and bargain for what is due them.
Community leaders appreciated the objectives of the campaign, promising their support for its success, and highlighted the urgent need for intervention.
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