By Edward Dankwah
Accra, May 28, GNA – The Energy Commission, in collaboration with GIZ, has officially launched the Public Facility Sustainable Energy Action Plan (PF-SEAP) Programme to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions within Ghana’s public sector.
The initiative forms part of broader government efforts to strengthen the financial sustainability of the energy sector, while promoting efficient energy management within Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which remain among the country’s largest consumers of electricity.
The launch also saw the inauguration of the PF-SEAP Institutional Technical Committee, comprising representatives from key MDAs, technical institutions, and partner organizations.
The Committee is expected to support the identification and implementation of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy interventions in public facilities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, promote compliance with sustainable energy policies, and facilitate data-driven decision-making to ensure measurable program impact.
Mr. Richard Gyan-Mensah, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to address rising electricity consumption and the persistent accumulation of utility arrears within public institutions, while supporting the country’s broader energy sector recovery programme.
He noted that energy remained one of the most important drivers of national development, stressing that reliable and affordable electricity was essential for economic growth, healthcare delivery, education, investment attraction and improved living standards.
Mr. Gyan-Mensah said although Ghana had made significant progress in expanding energy access and improving generation capacity over the years, the sector continued to face major financial and operational challenges, particularly the increasing electricity bills owed by public institutions.
He said since the current government assumed office, revenue mobilisation within the energy sector had improved considerably through deliberate policy interventions, stronger enforcement measures and enhanced revenue collection efforts.
“As part of these reforms, some public institutions that failed to meet their payment obligations have been disconnected from electricity supply,” he added.
He said the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) had been directed to migrate public institutions onto prepayment metering systems, except for facilities classified as critical national installations.
Mr. Gyan-Mensah explained that the measures were intended to improve revenue collection, reduce arrears accumulation and strengthen the financial viability of the country’s power distribution companies.
He stressed that the sustainability of ECG and NEDCo remained crucial to the survival and stability of the entire energy sector, warning that financially weak distribution utilities would undermine efforts to maintain reliable electricity supply, expand infrastructure and improve service delivery.
The Deputy Minister said the programme also aligned with the government’s industrialisation agenda and the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy, adding that a modern industrial economy required reliable, efficient, affordable and sustainable energy systems.
He emphasised that the successful implementation of the PF-SEAP programme would depend on strong institutional coordination, technical capacity, sustainable financing and long-term commitment from all stakeholders.
Madam Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie, Acting Executive Secretary, Energy Commission, reiterated that public institutions remained among the largest consumers of electricity in the country, making energy efficiency critical to national development.
She explained that the programme aligned with the Energy Commission’s mandate to promote efficient energy utilisation and support Ghana’s broader economic transformation agenda.
Madam Bondzie said the PF-SEAP would help public institutions reduce energy waste, lower operational costs and transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
She added that the initiative complemented ongoing interventions such as the net metering programme and the Accelerator Solar Action Programme, which supported the deployment of solar energy systems in institutions.
“The programme also supports the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, hence a reliable and sustainable energy sector remains essential for productivity and industrial growth,” she stressed.
She urged members of the technical committee to focus on practical implementation and measurable results to ensure the success of the programme, and Ghana’s transition to a more sustainable energy future.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade