The Wa West District is grappling with significant infrastructural deficits, notably in telecommunications and electricity access, hindering social, economic, and security development. The District Chief Executive Richard Wulo speaking to Info Radio emphasized the urgent need for government intervention.

Mr. Wulo explained that large swaths of the district remain outside the coverage areas of telecommunication networks, rendering communication difficult for residents. This lack of connectivity has adversely affected essential services, including healthcare, education, and security operations. In response to these challenges, the DCE engaged with the district’s Member of Parliament, Rt. Supt. Peter Lanchene Toobu, to address the network coverage gaps. Their joint efforts led to the submission of a formal request to the Ministry of Communications, which has since approved the construction of four new 4G telecommunication sites in ten central communities across the district. These strategic locations are expected to serve multiple surrounding communities, significantly enhancing network coverage and communication efficiency.

In addition to telecommunications, electricity access remains a major hurdle for the district’s development. Out of 236 communities, only 63—about 26 percent—are connected to the national power grid. The remaining 173 communities continue to operate without electricity, impacting healthcare delivery, educational opportunities, small businesses, and overall quality of life. To address this, the Ministry of Energy has approved plans to connect 55 additional communities within the district to the national grid, a move expected to alleviate some of these infrastructural deficits.

The district’s leadership underscores the critical need for sustained infrastructural development to foster social progress and economic growth. With government commitments underway, residents and stakeholders remain hopeful that these initiatives will bring about meaningful change in the Wa West District.

Source: Info Radio