Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA
Accra, May 28, GNA – Parliament is set to lead by example in Ghana’s transition to renewable energy with plans to install solar panels at the Parliamentary enclave as part of efforts to promote clean energy adoption across Ghana.
The initiative would demonstrate Parliament’s commitment to sustainable energy while encouraging constituencies nationwide to embrace renewable energy solutions.
Mr Yaw Addo Frimpong, Chair of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, who was speaking at the Ghana Green Investment Dialogue in Accra, said the country must move “from awareness to action” in addressing energy challenges and accelerating investments in clean energy infrastructure.
The workshop, organised by the Climate Parliament in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Parliament of Ghana, brought together policymakers, legislators, investors, financial institutions and development partners to discuss strategies for mobilising green investment and climate finance.
Mr Frimpong said: “There has been enough awareness creation about renewable energy and sustainability. The time has come for practical action.”
He said Parliament was prepared to support the passage of laws and regulations needed to create a favourable environment for renewable energy investments, particularly constituency-based energy projects.
Mr Frimpong noted that Ghana’s renewable energy transition required collaboration among government ministries, investors, financial institutions and energy providers to mobilise resources for large-scale implementation.
The MP cited Zambia’s experience during its energy crisis, where legislators were allowed to use constituency development funds to invest in alternative energy projects in their communities.
He said the initiative enabled the Members of Parliament to establish small-scale renewable energy projects that helped to reduce pressure on the national electricity supply system.
“If such initiatives had been implemented earlier in Ghana, the impact of some of our past energy crises could have been reduced,” he said.
Mr Frimpong called for similar constituency-level renewable energy projects in Ghana to improve energy security, create jobs and support sustainable development.
Dr Robert Sogbadji, Deputy Director for Renewable Energy and Green Transition at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, said Ghana had reached a critical stage where it must move beyond pilot renewable energy projects and policy frameworks towards large-scale implementation and bankable investment pipelines.
The Government, he said, had already made significant progress through the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), which had enabled the installation of solar mini-grids in island and lakeside communities.
The mini-grid systems, he explained, were delivering clean and reliable electricity to thousands of previously underserved residents, powering homes, schools, health centres and productive economic activities such as agro-processing and small businesses.
Dr Sogbadji noted that the renewable energy projects demonstrated Government’s commitment to inclusive energy access and climate-resilient development.
He disclosed that the Ministry was also preparing to roll out a national net-metering framework that would allow households and businesses with rooftop solar systems to feed excess electricity into the national grid.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Writer: Albert Oppong-Ansah
Email: [email protected]