Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, Professor Abeeku Brew-Hammond, says the government will soon set up a rural electrification agency to address the concerns of rural communities. He made this known when he led members of the commission to call on the Upper West Regional Minister, Mahmoud Khalid. Professor Brew-Hammond said the agency, when set up, will focus on rural electrification and address problems of lack of access to electricity in those communities. The Energy Commission was set up over decade ago with the mission to recommend energy policy framework for the country. It has set for itself a target to secure 5,000 megawatts of power by 2015. Prof Brew-Hammond said the Commission is at the advanced stage of getting a renewable energy bill passed and when it is passed the region will be the biggest beneficiary. “The commission has played a big role in drafting it. We’ve put it to the ministry, the ministry is considering it…That law has a lot of incentives.” “There is a move to set up a rural electrification agency that will focus on ensuring that rural electrification takes place and addressing the concerns on the ground,” he added. The Upper West Regional Minister expressed concern about contracts of rural electrification projects that are awarded without the consent of regional coordinating councils, Upper West Regional Correspondent Rafiq Salam reported. The team is expected to tour the region for the next two days during which time members will acquaint themselves with energy challenges there. The rural electrification project was launched during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration under ex-President Rawlings. In ensuring continuity, however, the government under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) embarked on various projects to extend electricity to the rural areas. The government says the extention of electric power to rural areas is part of efforts to boost education and economic development in those areas. Story by Rafik Salam/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana *Fiifi Koomson contributed reporting