Abstract:
Energy is essential and without it, societies can neither function socially nor commercially.
Without sufficient and adequate energy resources, developing countries will not be able to
foster the social and economic developments that are crucial for growth. Electricity is
believed to have played a major role in development as well as poverty alleviation;
expansion of access to electric energy to rural areas where poverty greatly resides has shown
slow progress worldwide. In this regard, the study assessed the challenges and prospects
associated with rural electrification in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region of
Ghana. Data for the study was obtained using structured questionnaires and interview
schedule. In all, there were 123 respondents made up of 115 residents and eight
management of the Bawku District Assembly and the Volta River Authority respectively.
Quantitative data analysis was performed using the Statistical Products and Service
Solutions (SPSS), version 18, while thematic analysis was performed on the interview data.
The study concludes that rural electrification has had much positive effect on the residents
of the Bawku West District. This is by decreased poverty, raising the standard of living,
creating more jobs in the District thereby reducing unemployment as well as enhancing the
academic achievement of children in school. Rural electrification significantly impacts on
the creation of SMEs in the District. The major challenge of rural electrification in the
District included the scattered nature of settlement which makes it difficult to extend
electricity to other parts that are far as well as inadequate funds to extend electrification to
other parts of the area. It is recommended that the government through the Ministry of
Energy should create the needed incentives to attract investors for rural electrification. This
can be achievement by creating a system of tariffs and subsidies that ensures sustainable
cost recovery while minimizing price distortions.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of Design and Technology Education Faculty of
Technical Vocational Education Submitted to School of Graduate Studies, University
of Education Winneba, in partial fulfillment of the Requirement for the award of the
Degree of Master of Technology in Electrical/ Electronics Technology Education
APRIL, 2014
