Over 5000 residents living in Pokuase, Amoako and Esienkyem communities in the Ahafo Ano East District in the Ashanti Region are without electricity or standby generator forcing nurses and midwives to deliver pregnant women using torch lights from their mobile phones at various CHIP compounds.
Residents from the three communities who are connected to any form of electricity since creation, said midwives and health officials using lights from their mobile phones and torch lights as a primary source of effulgence was nothing new to them.
Some women in the area who shared their experiences with this reporter on Monday, July 11, 2022, said they were always in fear when their time are due for delivery.
“The Midwives sometimes use phones and we are forced to purchase the batteries for the flashlights if things get worse.
“The situation has put maternal health care in the towns on the brink as women who are due delivery in the next month are apprehensive over the development,” a concerned resident said.
Assemblyman’s call for help
The Assembly member of Pokuase-Amoako Electoral Area, Hon Alfred Owusu said the communities were connected to the national grid after government embarked on a rural electrification project in the area.
He explained that the Electricity Company of Ghana disconnected them from the National grid barely two weeks after they were first connected to power.
“I had to follow up to the District Assembly to find out why we were disconnected from the national grid almost immediately after connecting us
“Surprisingly our District Chief executive said the three communities can only use the electricity system after official commissioning by the government.
“And it has taken the government more than six months to officially hand over the project to the communities; the situation is indeed causing many problems for our people,” he emphasised.
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