By Kodjo Adams
Accra, May 18, GNA – Mr. Samuel Fletcher, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services at the Volta River Authority (VRA),has underscored the importance of harnessing renewable resources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
He said optimising the benefits of renewable energy will help to mitigate environmental impacts and foster resilience against climate change.
This was in a speech read on his behalf at the opening ceremony of ECOWAS’ regional training of trainers on Clean Mini-Grid Design, Installation, and Inspection in Akuse in the Eastern Region.
Twenty engineers from the Ho Technical University and The Gambia are attending the two-week training to advance clean energy and professional excellence in the sector.
The programme is being hosted by the VRA Academy in collaboration with the Takoradi Technical University and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).
The participants will be taken through the principles of clean mini-grid design, the practicalities of installation and inspection, and the pedagogical frameworks.
The regional collaboration is expected to elevate the standards of renewable energy practice across ECOWAS member states.
Mr. Fletcher said the programme marked an important milestone in the collective pursuit of sustainable energy solutions for West Africa.
“The energy sector in West Africa is undergoing a profound transformation. As nations strive to achieve universal access to electricity, mini-grids have emerged as a practical and scalable solution, particularly for rural and peri-urban communities.”
Mr. Fletcher said the deployment of solar photovoltaic mini-grids was a strategic investment in the region’s socio-economic development.
He stressed that the expertise required to design, install, and inspect these systems was critical to ensuring their effectiveness and sustainability.
“At VRA, our experience underscores the value of targeted capacity building. Our technical teams, having undergone specialised training in mini-grid design and installation, have successfully implemented projects that have transformed communities and contributed to national energy targets,” he said.
He urged the participants to uphold the highest standards of quality, safety, and integrity in their work, embracing innovation and championing inclusivity in the pursuit of excellence.
Mr. Kingsley Gyamfi, the Chief Learning Officer of the VRA Academy, said even though the West Africa region was endowed with extraordinary dynamism and potential, there were still many people without reliable electricity.
The training workshop, he explained, represented one of the most viable and scalable solutions to address the challenges, especially in rural and peri-urban communities.
A speech read on behalf of Mr. Gibson Obasi, the Acting Executive Director of ECREEE, commended the collaboration between ECOWAS and Ghana to address gaps in the energy sector.
He said the programme, through harmonised certification and skills development, would equip competent engineers to deliver high-quality mini-grid projects.
GNA
Reporter: Kodjo Adams
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Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong