Minister Tasks New EC Board

The Deputy Minister of Energy in-charge of Power, William Owuraku Aidoo, has charged board members of the Energy Commission (EC) to prioritize the finalization of the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) before the end of the year to ensure its implementation.

The Deputy Minister, who was speaking at the inauguration of the seven-member EC board in Accra, also urged the new board to provide guidelines and the needed legislative drafts for the construction of mini-grids within a month and review the gas master plan in accordance with the mandate of the Commission.

He was of the view that although Ghana has made great strides in renewable energy, with the country being named among the top in energy efficiency policies, there are still some challenges that need immediate attention.

Mr Aidoo said the REMP would essentially provide an investment-focused framework for the promotion and development of the country’s rich renewable energy resources for sustainable economic growth.

“REMP is aimed at increasing national supply of renewable energy system from 38MW in 2015 to 2561MW, provide renewable energy-based decentralized electrification options in 1,000 off-grid communities and promote local content and participation in the renewable energy industry and reduce the dependency on biomass as main fuel for thermal energy applications,” he said.

It will also enable all the various economic sectors and social actors to sing from one hymn book in developing renewable energy.

He said currently about 16 percent of Ghanaians are still not connected to the national grid and do not have access to electricity.

“The geographical location of our brothers and sisters in the rural areas and isolated island communities should not be a barrier for them enjoying electricity supply,” he said.

He therefore challenged the Commission to accommodate mini-grids based on renewable energy and hybrids to provide the much-needed electricity to the rural and isolated communities.

The board is led by Professor George Panyin Hagan, with Dr. Alfred Kwabena Ofosu Ahenkorah, Dr. Isaac Frimpong Mensah-Bonsu, Prof Moses Aristophanes Kwame Gyasi as members.

Other members include Dari Biamark Harruna, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh and Alhaji Jabaru Abukakri.

Professor Hegan, in his acceptance speech, thanked President Akufo-Addo and pledged to work hard to further promote the vision of the President in the energy sector.