Albert Oppong-Ansah
Accra, May 28, GNA – Members of Parliament have been urged to take a leading role in promoting renewable energy and green investment projects within their constituencies as Ghana intensifies efforts to accelerate its transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy.
Dr Robert Sogbadji, the Deputy Director for Renewable Energy and Green Transition at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, made the call at the Second Edition of the Ghana Green Investment Dialogue and Capacity Building Workshop held in Accra on Thursday.
The workshop, organised by the Climate Parliament in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and Ghana’s Parliament, brought together policymakers, legislators, investors, financial institutions and development partners to discuss strategies for mobilising green investment and climate finance.
Dr Sogbadji said Parliamentarians occupied a strategic position in driving Ghana’s green transition because of their direct engagement with local communities and development needs.
“This is precisely why your leadership is indispensable. As the direct representatives of the people, you are best placed to champion the green transition where it matters most – in your constituencies,” he said.
He encouraged MPs to identify and prioritise renewable energy opportunities that could support productive activities in agriculture, fisheries and small-scale industries within their electoral areas.
Constituency-level renewable energy projects, he said, had the potential to stimulate local economic development, create jobs and strengthen community resilience against climate-related shocks.
Dr Sogbadji urged legislators to support the expansion of rooftop solar and net-metering programmes for households, schools, health facilities and businesses.
He said the national net-metering framework, which the Government was preparing to roll out, would allow consumers with rooftop solar systems to feed excess electricity into the national grid while reducing electricity costs.
The Deputy Director also called on MPs to mobilise climate finance and investment for constituency-based renewable energy projects through engagement with development partners, the Green Climate Fund and private investors.
He stressed the need for renewable energy initiatives to be integrated into district and local development plans to ensure long-term sustainability and inclusive growth.
Dr Sogbadji noted that Ghana had made significant progress in advancing its renewable energy agenda through policies such as the Renewable Energy Act, the Renewable Energy Master Plan and the National Energy Transition Framework.
He highlighted achievements under the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), which had enabled the deployment of solar mini-grids in island and lakeside communities previously without reliable electricity access.
The mini-grid systems, he said, were powering homes, schools, health facilities and small businesses, while improving livelihoods in underserved communities.
Dr Sogbadji disclosed that Ghana’s electricity access rate had exceeded 89 per cent, making it one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite the progress, he said the country needed to move beyond pilot projects and policy discussions towards large-scale renewable energy deployment and investment-ready projects at the constituency level.
Mr Dickson Kyere-Duah, Member of Parliament for Berekum West, speaking on behalf of the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Environment, Science and Technology Committee, said Parliament recognised its responsibility to create an enabling environment for sustainable investment.
He said green investment was no longer optional but critical to Ghana’s future economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
Mr Kyere-Duah noted that strong partnerships, innovative financing, supportive policy frameworks and capacity-building were necessary to advance Ghana’s green transition agenda.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would strengthen collaboration between Parliament, the private sector and development partners while equipping MPs with the knowledge and tools needed to champion green initiatives in their constituencies.
GNA
EDITED by Agnes Boye-Doe
Writer: Albert Oppong-Ansah
Email: [email protected]