Ghana’s technical electricity regulator, Energy Commission, last Friday, climaxed its 25th-anniversary celebrations with a Thanksgiving Service at the Ghana Police Service Church in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The Thanksgiving Service was attended by several staff of the Commission, Some Board Members, Dr. Kwame Ampofo and Prof. George Panyin Hagan (Both Past Board Chairmen of the Commission) Dr. Alfred Ofosu Ahenkora, former Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Wilhelmina Asamoah, Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy, Engr. Kokou Laurent Tossou, Chairman of Ecowas Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), Wisdom Ahiataku-Togo, Director for Renewable Energy at BPA, Communications Manager of BPA, Madam Akua Sakyi, Dr Ishmael Ackah, Executive Secretary of PURC and some industry players.
The Energy Commission was set up by an Act of Parliament, the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541) with functions relating to the regulation, management, development and utilisation of energy resources in Ghana.
Delivering a speech, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ing Amonoo-Neizer, commended both current and past Board Chairmen, past Executive Secretaries and staff of the Commission for their commitment which has brought success to the commission.
Highlighting some key milestones chalked by the Commission over the years, Rev. Ing. Amonoo-Neizer mentioned the transition nationwide from incandescent light bulbs to CFLs with the distribution of six million CFLs as a load reduction measure to reduce the impact of power shortages in 2007, making Ghana the first country in Africa to introduce such an intervention; the Refrigerator Exchange Programme which encouraged the surrendering of used, old refrigerators in exchange for a discount on new ones; and the passage of the Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832) which gave the Commission the mandate to establish and regulate a renewable energy market in Ghana.
He continued with the electrification of 200 households in 18 off-grid rural communities in the East and South Kwahu Districts in the Eastern Region with solar home systems under the National Rooftop Solar Programme; the development of the Integrated Power Sector Management Plan (IPSMP) for the power sector to ensure a resilient power system to reliably meet Ghana’s growing power demand cost-effectively; the establishment of the Electricity Market Oversight Panel (EMOP) and the publication of Ghana Wholesale Electricity Market Bulletin; the development of a Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) to chart a road map for the sustainable utilization of renewable energy resources technologies, Established the Local Content and Local Participation framework which is being implemented.
He went on to mention the certification of 14,000 professional electricians nationwide as of today under the framework of the Electrical Wiring Regulations which has streamlined and standardised the wiring of household and commercial facilities.
He again mentioned the development and causing the enactment of over 40 Regulations for both the electricity and natural gas industries.
The Commission achieved over 97 per cent compliance in the refrigerator and air condition space with meeting the minimum efficiency standards,
Additionally, the commission initiated the Drive Electric Initiative Programme to promote the use of electric vehicles in Ghana, leading to the setting up and operation of charging stations in the country.
It established the Energy Symposium and Renewable Energy Fair as a collaborative platform to promote sustainable businesses, network and share ideas and research discoveries, established the Energy Commission’s Senior High School Renewable Energy Challenge (SHSREC) as a tool to encourage and reward innovation among students in second cycle institutions, in the area of renewable energy, clean energy, and energy efficiency.
In a sermon, Bishop Ebenezer Obodai, Executive & Resident Pastor of Action Chapel International, quoted Hebrews 6:10, Deuteronomy 8:1-10, and Psalm 124:1,8 to underscore the need for Thanksgiving.
He encouraged the Commission to never forget where it started and where they are currently.
“Gratitude will qualify you for more,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com