Dr. Mohammed Amin, Deputy Minister of Energy
A Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr. Mohammed Amin, has stated that while Ghana remains committed to the global conversation on energy transition, any efforts at rolling out the programme must be done at a pace favourable to the country’s particular circumstances.
Dr. Amin said this when he addressed the first regional Town Hall forum on the Ghana Energy Transition Plan at Ho in the Volta Region.
He acknowledged that it had become imperative for the country to reduce emissions from production and the use of energy by replacing high emitting fuels, particularly fossils, with sustainable fuels, such as renewables.
The end goal of such an effort, he said, is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. He explained that this effort of changing or moving away from energy produced from fossils to energy produced from renewables and other clean and high-efficiency sources is what is termed energy transition.
Dr Amin pointed out that inasmuch as Ghana wants to contribute to reducing emissions, a balance must be struck and maintained among the country’s social, economic and environmental requirements.
Convenience
“We will move with the rest of the world towards cleaner energy. However, we will do this at our pace, cognizant of the fact that we are not as resourced as the developed countries. We simply cannot allow our God-given oil resources to become stranded when they are key to our industrialisation agenda,” he cautioned.
The event, which was attended by Ghanaians from all walks of life, discussed issues confronting the country in the context of energy transition and how the country can overcome its challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving global society.
Key amongst the participants were the Volta Regional Minister, Archibald Yao Letsa, the president of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, and other dignitaries from key institutions and CSOs within the region.
Further Town Hall engagements will be taking place in various regional capitals in the ensuing weeks, the conveners stated.
The Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on December 21, 2021, inaugurated the National Energy Transition Committee to prepare a plan that will guide Ghana’s process. As part of its activities, the committee is conducting nationwide stakeholder consultations to solicit inputs from Ghanaians.
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia recently launched the National Energy Transition Forum in Accra to mark the beginning of the Town Hall engagements nationwide.
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