In 2015, Oxfam in Ghana in partnership with Northern Sector Action on Awareness (NORSAAC), initiated a solar-powered project known as the Kpatua Solar Project in Kpatua, a community in the Garu District of the Upper East Region.
This led to the installation of solar at the Kpatua CHPS Compound, Primary School and an irrigation system for dry season farming and use by some households in the community. It was aimed at improving the lives of community members since the community is yet to be connected to the national electricity grid.
9years on, as part of processes to revamp the solar model with the sole aim of influencing the adoption of the model for replication in a similar context, NORSAAC held a stakeholder engagement at Kpatua on Friday, 9th February 2024.
As part of the engagement, deliberations largely focused on how the community members will ensure the sustainability of the project through a well-thought-out maintenance plan, following the decision of the organization to service and replace damaged batteries and other accessories.
This led to the formation of a 7-member committee with the mandate of coordinating community efforts to properly maintain the facility.
Taking turns to address the gathering, Mahama Bilak Thompson, a Community Health Nurse and the Nurse in charge at the Kpatua CHPS, Atampure Jonas, chronicled how the project is helping to improve healthcare delivery in the area.
They indicate that through the solar-powered project, they have been able to store vaccines for use at the facility.
Mr. Atampure noted that because of the lighting system, they can have nurses stationed to work 24 hours.
“Most of us were not staying here but with the solar-powered project, we now have someone who stays here. It has also helped because some of the equipment for wound dressing is now here and we can sterilize them. Previously, they used to go to Garu to do wound dressing. We also run a three-shift system and many of them are willing to come because of the lighting system and even some of the community members charge their phones here.” He stated.
In the area of education, the Head Teacher of Kpatua Primary, Halidu Mukaila Yusif, explained that the installation of power drawn from solar has brought about improvement in teaching and learning in the school.
He added that lessons in Information Communication Technology (ICT), are no longer taught in abstraction.
“The installation of power in the school has brought about improvement in our teaching and learning. Since the world is now driven by technology, teachers can now have access to sources of power to teach their ICT lessons. Also, the children come back in the night to have preps.” He explained.
On her part, Salome Wesono Sapio, a Program Manager -Norsaac, expressed delight over the establishment of the committee to push for the sustainability of the project adding, that the project has been useful in the areas of education, health, and agric.
“They have decided that they will sit the committee to come out with measures to protect the project. So, what the engagement sort to do was to get commitment from the community on the ownership or sustainability of the model.”
