The construction of an extended natural gas pipeline from Gyegyetreso at Humjibre in the Western Region to Anwomaso in the Ejisu Municipality in the Ashanti Region by Genser Energy Ghana Limited was not without deliberate man-made impediments.
The project plan, according to the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, was already in place when he took office in 2021.
He said the plan he met included a pipeline from Nyinahini through Kumasi through Kyebi and back to Tema with the sole aim of ensuring affordable energy is generated.
However, the plan suffered a plethora of setbacks skillfully devised by elements in the ruling government to kill it way before it matured.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Kumasi Pipeline PPO2 at Anwomaso in the Ashanti Region on April 17, 2024, the Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II disclosed the original plan took a nosedive when the government decided to review and exclude Kumasi from the plan and construct the line up to Nyinahini.
The King said the project was hit with a series of hurdles with some elements of the government dragging the noble fight for the project along tribal lines and engaging in false accusations.
“Estimation found that the entire project with Kumasi included would be more cost-effective and prudent while it would be higher without Kumasi; however, there was still opposition to it.
“There were a lot of hindrances to the project. Meanwhile, gas supply here would facilitate power delivery here and in other parts of the country. Some people (in government) also accused my son and grandson here of taking bribes from the company. It was all over in the newspapers. Along the line, they (the government) insisted it is impossible to construct a gas pipeline here (Kumasi) and so it must be done up to Nyinahini, meanwhile, the extraction of the bauxite has not yet commenced.”
He wondered why the government tried hampering the project funded by a private entity when it lacked the financial capacity for it while stressing the significance of the project to the whole country.
According to him, it will stabilize affordable energy supply not just in the region but also in the northern sectors of the country.
Speaking at the event, Board Chairman of Genser Power Africa, Nana Osae Nyampong VI said but for the encouragement and backing of Asantehene, the project would have remained a dream and a sketch on paper.
“There were times I was discouraged but you always egged me on and that is why you are seeing what you see today. I am very grateful to you.”
The pipeline which forms part of the Genser pipeline network spans about 430 km and consists of 23 gas stations supplying natural gas from the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) at Prestea Regulating and Metering Station (PRMS).
Source: Manhyia Palace
