The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council has issued a directive to the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the area to reject substandard electricity poles supplied by contractors under the Self Help Electrification Project.

Mr Daniel Syme, Deputy Regional Minister, gave the directive during stakeholders and engagement forum on power distribution in the north.

It was organised by Volta River Authority (VRA) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).

He said the MDAs should consult the VRA/NEDCo to assist them to procure standardised electricity poles for the project.

Mr Bukari Danladi, Area Manager of VRA/NEDCo in charge of the Region, said his outfit is prepared to offer free consultancy services for the MDAs.

Mr Francis Kusi, Director of Finance and Commercial of VRA/NEDCo, who spoke on the theme: “Power Distribution in the North, the Past, the Present and the Future,” called for upward adjustment of tariffs to improve on services.

The operations of VRA-NEDCo covers Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

It extends operations to parts of the Volta, Ashanti and Western Regions. The geographical area of Ghana covered by VRA/NEDCo is about 64 per cent.

The companies supply electricity to some communities in Northern part of Togo and Burkina Faso.