The government took a firm decision to move the 450 magwatts Karpowership to Sekondi Naval Base to enable operations draw natural gas from Atuabo Ghana Gas plant to power the plant which is currently lying ideal while a huge sum of dollars is spent on servicing it monthly.

Mr John Hagan Operations Engineer, made this known during a media soirée at Atuabo in the Ellembelle District where officials of the company took turns to explain the operations of Company.

He said the eight kilometres onshore pipelines and 1.3km offshore pipelines have successfully been laid, adding that the project was about 83 percent complete and was hopeful that it would be commissioned in the third week of August this year.

Mr Hagan said Ghana Gas Company was building a resilient infrastructure in the Gas sector, adding that if the company adds up its total supplies to clients, it be would provide close to 53 percent gas to the national grid which he described as very significant.

He commended the affected communities made up of Ngresiah, Essipong, Lower and Upper Inchaban and Aboadze through which the pipeline were passing, for their support and cooperation, which had allowed the company to access their communities both day and night.

Mr Joseph Ewoniah, Senior Manager for Community Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Ghana Gas, said a total of 80 farmers have so been paid compensation for the destruction of their crops and that payment of compensation on lands was done in phases with the first affected group fully paid their compensation, while 60 percent was paid on the second phase.

On safety, security, and hazard, Mr Ewoniah said the company had placed a corporate policy on social and environmental issues and that regular community sensitization programmes were being organized in their operational areas.

Touching on the Ghana Gas office complex at Abokazo in the Ellembelle District, Mr Ernest Owusu Bempah Communications Director, described the office complex as a functional edifice which has international features.

He said building the office complex at Abokazo which is to accommodate about 50-100 staff was to bring the activities and services of Ghana Gas closer to its host communities.

Mr Owusu Bempah hinted that Ghana Gas as part of its CSR was going to roll out a programme dubbed 'Turn a Page'  which is geared towards inculcating reading habits among school children in the Western Region, which would  be extended to the rest of the country in future.

He said the programme which would commence in October this year would enable special officials move from school to school to encourage school children to read more books instead of resorting to the use of social media.

Mr Owusu Bempah noted with concern that with the upsurge of social media, people were no longer interested in reading and called on the media to partner Ghana Gas to achieve the set goal.

He said apart from the ‘Turn a Page’ programme the company has also built teacher quarters for the Anokyi and Asemdasuazo schools to enhance teaching and learning.