Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (middle) with some USAID country officials
Electricity generation, transmission and distribution remain top objectives for the Energy Ministry because of its commitment to keeping the lights on and the country moving, the sector Minister, Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, has said.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that power is available, reliable and universally accessible to everyone.
“Our current power availability rate of 87.03 per cent is an incentive to strive tirelessly towards our national targets,” he said.
Dr Opoku-Prempeh said this when representatives from the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Country Office paid him a courtesy call to inform him on their Power Africa West Africa Energy Programme.
Solar, wind energy projects
The Energy Minister also expressed the government’s commitment to increasing utility-scale solar (solar-hydro and hybrid) and wind energy projects, as well as accelerate the development of mini-grid solutions in off-grid and island communities.
“Government is devoted to ensuring power access to every nook and cranny of our country,” he said, adding “you are deserving partners in this cause.”
Dr Opoku-Prempeh reaffirmed his resolve to continue engaging well-intentioned players in Ghana’s energy access efforts for the people’s advancement and prosperity.
The officials briefed the Minister about their 4-pillar power activity, which is optimising power supply, increasing grid-based power connections, accelerating regional power trade and strengthening utilities and other power sector entities, all within the framework of supporting the energy sector of the West African sub region.
Nuclear power
Similarly, a delegation from Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) paid a visit to the Minister, and submitted an evaluation report as part of the processes leading to the selection of a vendor for Ghana’s Nuclear Power Project.
Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, a member of the Board of Directors of Nuclear Power Ghana and the CEO of the Bui Power Authority, was also sworn into office by the Minister.
He urged the Bui Power Authority and the NPG to keep working together, as Ghana attempts to make progress in its nuclear energy endeavours.
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