By: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Nzulezu

Power is to be extended to Nzulezu, a popular tourist destination in the Jomoro District in the Western Region, to boost tourism in the stilt village.

This is under a $16.5million package the World Bank extended to the Government of Ghana for the electrification projects in the region under the Ghana Energy Distribution Access Project (GEDAP).

The extension power, at a cost of $200,000, to the community follows an increase in the tourist traffic to the district with Nzulezu as the final destination.

Facilities at this tourist centre have not seen any appreciation improvement over the years to enable it to rake in the needed revenue.

Community leaders said interest in the community sitting on stilts in the middle of the River Manzule had been increasing but the lack of facilities such as electricity and other social amenities had denied the community of the anticipated revenue and benefits from its tourist potential. The project which would be executed by China Water, a Chinese Engineering Company has been designed to withstand rising water levels during rainy seasons.

The Western Regional Public Relations Officer of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr. Daniel Adjei-Lerbi, said at the final meeting with the people in the community before the commencement of the project that “because of the uniqueness of the location, there has been a design to ensure that the best job is delivered to the people of Nzulezu.

He said the extension of the power supply cables to the community would start from the nearest community to the river side with more poles erected in the river.

Mr. Adjei-Lerbi said the contractor would have to take into consideration a lot of safety precautions in mounting the transformer which would serve the community.

He said the GEDAP Western Region grid extension package stared some years ago but for the unique nature of the stilt village, the project would have been completed by now.

Members of the Nzulezu community said that it was very important to have electricity in the village during the final assessment meeting with officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana.

According to them, they actually use power generators at a high cost to entertain visitors to the place.

The normal hustle to get canoes to the community has improved with the provision of a reception center which takes care of the visitors before they embark on the voyage to the village.

Some visitors said they were eager to establish resorts in the community but first stressed the need to have electricity extended to the area.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Ms. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, said the area was endowed with a lot of opportunities, and the extension of the light to the stilt village would be helpful.

Daily Graphic       Tuesday, December 13, 2011       Page 64