Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, has called for support from the U.S Government to help solve the energy problems in the country.
The minister, who made the call when the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Gene A. Cretz, called on him at his office in Accra, said the country was ready for increased collaboration with the US in the area of energy.
To be able to satisfy the increasing demand for energy in the country, Mr Armah-Buah said government needs to generate an additional 200 megawatts every year for the next 20 years.
He stated that Government was putting measures in place in preparation for the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which mainly targets Ghana�s energy sector.
Mr. Armah-Buah therefore stressed the need for full co-operation among all stakeholders to ensure that the compact agreement was effectively developed and executed.
He said that there were plans in the short-term to restore normal supply of electricity within the next few weeks. Also, he said the restoration of the West African gas pipeline, the Takoradi 3 (T3) Thermal Plant, one unit of Bui Hydro Dam and Sunon-Asogli Power Plant will ensure continuous flow of electricity in Ghana and to her West African neighbours.
�The country is also looking at alternative sources of energy. For instance, renewable energy, for which a bill has been passed, as well as producing energy from waste will be seriously considered.
Mr. Buah expressed government�s appreciation to the US Government for the support to Ghana over the years.
Ambassador Cretz said because of the democratic credentials of Ghana, many US companies want to invest in the country.
He said the second compact of the MCC would strengthen the energy sector in order to make Ghana self-sufficient in energy generation and a net exporter of the commodity to her neighbours in the West African sub-region and beyond.
Ambassador Cretz also noted that the relationship between the two countries was excellent and expressed the hope that it would be strengthened in future.
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