The United Nations Development Programme’s Head of Environment and Climate Cluster, Dr Abdul Razak Saeed, has observed that attempts by Ghana to implement prudent and pragmatic measures to control environmental and climate degradation are key to reducing its impact on the West African nation.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf by the UNDP’s Programme Analyst, Dr Catherine Adodoadji-Dogbe, at a day’s energy efficiency regulations training for stakeholders in the sector in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
According to him, the programme provides a valuable opportunity for stakeholders in the sector to discuss strategic measures that can transform the appliance-regulated landscape sector.
“Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the Energy Commission and Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation for their commitment to organising this important gathering and bringing together key stakeholders in Ghana’s regulated appliances sector,” Dr Saeed lauded the group.
He attested that Ghana was making significant strides in fulfilling its commitment under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Dr Saeed was of the view that the partnership with the Energy Commission was crucial in supporting the Government of Ghana in achieving its environmental and energy efficiency goals.
“We would also like to recognise the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) for funding this meeting. PAGE collaborates with partner countries to transform their economies in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Through this initiative, PAGE is assisting the government in implementing SDG-7 which focuses on ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” he stressed.
The UNDP, according to Dr Saeed, through its flagship Climate Promise Programme, and in collaboration with the Ghana Energy Commission, continues to support the Government of Ghana in fulfilling its climate commitments and encouraging energy efficiency best practices.
“UNDP is confident that by engaging key stakeholders in Ghana’s regulated appliances sector, we can raise and build a shared understanding of the importance of energy efficiency regulation. Together, we can drive collective action towards reducing energy consumption and combating climate change,”‘ he emphasised.
Energy Commission’s Manager in charge of Energy Efficiency Regulations, Mr. Richard Donkor, who touched on ways to enhance consumer benefits of efficient electrical appliance use, said efficiency is with quality and prudent management of appliances.
This, he said, holds the key to cost reduction in electricity use. Mr. Donkor also advised Ghanaians to buy quality electrical appliances accredited by the Energy Commission to help reduce their cost of electricity.
The Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, General Manager of Projects, Mr. Gyimah Mohammed, in his presentation, observed that human activities such as old vehicle carbon monoxide emissions, and cutting down of trees, among other environmental unfriendly acts, affect the sanctity of the climate and environment’s ecosystem
These negative acts, he stressed, impact negatively on Ghana and Africa’s agriculture sector, which relies on 90 per cent rain for production.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s Engineer, Enyonam Kumi, in her presentation, urged Ghanaian consumers to learn how to use their outfit’s corner to calculate, track and measure their energy consumption.
She explained that this would help consumers to be extra careful in how to manage the use of their electrical appliances.
Participants included hoteliers, UNDP staff, the Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal and Metropolitan executives, the PURC, the Ministry of Energy, the Energy Commission, Security Agencies and the media.
The essence of the programme was to arm participants to use the knowledge acquired to help educate Ghanaian consumers on the importance of adopting effective and efficient use of electrical appliances to reduce its negative impact on climate and environmental changes in Ghana.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com