Access to affordable and reliable clean energy services is fundamental to reducing
poverty, increasing productivity and promoting economic growth. This is because it
influences all aspects of life in so many ways. It is on this basis that the National
Electrification scheme was introduced to extend the reach of reliable electricity supply to
all communities with population above 500 by 2020. The main aim of the study was to
examine the ways in which the NES affected poverty reduction and rural development in
the Amansie West District. Unstructured Interviews and Questionnaires were the methods
employed for data collection from a sample of one hundred and five (105) people for both
economic and household surveys. Respondents were randomly selected from the
communities of Manso-Atwere, Manso-Dominase, Kyenkyenase and Bonsaaso in the
Amansie West district. Data obtained were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative
methods such as percentages, frequency charts, cross tabulation and others using
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study showed that electrification has
facilitated the establishment of businesses which had increased the employment and
income generating capacity of the rural people to break the cycle of poverty. Some
limitations encountered in the survey process included the limited number of industries in
the communities which made it difficult to administer all the economic survey
questionnaires. It is concluded that any strategy aimed at reducing poverty through
electrification should focus on improving the livelihood of the people and not just by
providing electricity in isolation.