The story of the renewable energy industry in Ghana would be incomplete without the mentioning of Mr Wisdom Ahiataku -Togobo.
Wizzy, as he is affectionately called, spent 35 years of his life working to promote the development of renewable energy policy and projects from cookstove through to biogas, wind, solar and hydro power in the country.
Mr Ahiataku-Togobo attained 60 years of age last Friday, March 29, 2024, and, therefore, retired from active public service.
On Sunday, Mr Ahiataku-Togobo went to the Global Evangelical Church, Adonai Chapel in Madina to thank the Almighty God for watching over him and protecting him for the past 60 years, out of which he spent 35 years championing renewable energy policy and development.
I was one of the people who were invited to join him at his residence to continue to celebrate him and appreciate God for making grace abound for him to leave indelible prints in the renewable energy industry in Ghana.
During the programme, guests gave testimonies about Wisdom’s selflessness, generosity, hard work, passion for renewable energy, tenacity and ability to get work done on time.
His schoolmates (Odadee) from the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon, Accra, recounted how Wisdom used to excel in mathematics and science-related courses.
Ing Seth Mahu, Deputy Director for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy, and Mr Fredrick Appiah, Deputy Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the Energy Commission, gave testimonies about how Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo helped them to secure a job and also introduced them to the renewable energy.
The duo testified about Wisdom’s determination to always get work done, teamwork spirit and readiness to share with the needy.
In a nutshell, Wisdom’s effort put them in the position they both occupy in the energy sector today.
I also got to know Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo in 2019. Wisdom had been reading the stories I published about the energy sector, and seeing the quality of the stories, he managed to get my mobile number and called me and discussed his plans to visit some ongoing project sites in the northern part of Ghana.
I accepted his request to join him and we travelled to Bui in the Bono Region to inspect BPA’s site where preparation work was ongoing for the installation of a 200MW peak solar farm.
We spent a few days and continued the journey to Lawra and Kaleo to inspect VRA’s solar projects under construction by Elecnor SA.
We returned to Accra and Wisdom later facilitated a trip to the BPA’s Tsatsadu Mini Hydro Generation Station in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region. This project was then being constructed under the able leadership of Mr Fred Oware, the then CEO of Bui Power Authority (BPA).
Through Wisdom, I also had the opportunity to visit solar mini-grid sites in some island communities in the Ada District of the Greater Accra Region.
In 2020 Mr Ahiataku-Togobo did something that struck me.
The then Minister of Energy was scheduled to join His Excellency President Akufo-Addo to inaugurate the Lawra Solar Project and Wisdom arranged for me to join them at the Air Force Base for the Military Chopper to Wa.
I arrived at the Air Force Base early to wait for the Minister and his team to arrive for us to board the chopper.
It did not take long when the Minister arrived with member of the Ministry’s delegation.
At the reception, a message was communicated to the Honourable Minister, that I be excluded from joining the trip.
The reason was that I wrote about a case the Ministry of Energy reported to the police about the attempted withdrawal of about three million cedis from the Ministry’s account with NIB.
On hearing this, Mr Ahiataku-Togobo politely insisted that if I did not join them on the trip, he was not going to join them either.
Since Wisdom’s presence at the inauguration was necessary, they had to agree that i be allowed to join the the delegation to Wa for the inauguration of the project.
Anytime Wisdom needed my help, he would call me, and I gladly honor his request. I must say that he used the little resources meant for him to ensure that I was quite comfortable anytime I joined him on a trip.
After the 2020 election, a new Energy Minister was appointed, resulting in the reorganization of the Renewable Energy Directorate. As it is said, “New King New Law,” so Wisdom’s position was subsequently reassigned to the Bui Power Authority.
Mr Fred Oware, who had relied on the advice of the Renewable Energy Directorate headed by Wisdom and could testify about the expertise of Mr Ahiataku-Togobo in renewable energy, facilitated for him to join BPA till his mandatory retirement.
At BPA, he became the face of the company due to his level of expertise in renewable energy.
He represented BPA at many international forums, spoke to the hearts of audiences, and on many occasions received standing ovations and applauses from the gatherings.
My relationship with Wisdom continued even when he moved from the Ministry of Energy to BPA.
I had the opportunity to visit him on a few occasions to chat and discuss issues.
Two things that inspired me to write about Mr Ahiataku-Togobo was how the Lord used me to avert a spiritual attack on his life.
The first was sometime in 2021. The Lord revealed to me in a dream that I was having a conversation with Wisdom. After a while, we bade goodbye to each other and he drove off.
A few minutes later, I turned and watched Wisdom get involved in a terrible accident and was dashed to a Roman Catholic Hospital where his two legs were amputated.
I wept in the dream when I saw him in that state.
I prayed for him and communicated the dream to him.
He told me that the BPA was making arrangements to get him a vehicle but because it was not ready, he was still using the Ministry’s vehicle which he intended to travel with the following day.
Upon receiving my advice, Wisdom changed his plans and returned the vehicle to the Ministry.
The second thing was, one Thursday morning, I decided to call Wisdom on the telephone to check up on him since we had not spoken for weeks.
Surprisingly, Wisdom was not well and could not even breathe properly. I told him I would come over, called my prayer partner and we drove to his (Wisdom’s ) residence.
At the entrance to his house, we prayed before and God spoke.
When we entered the house, Wisdom was lying down with his wife beside him. There were a couple of medicines by him. I requested a bottle of anointing oil for prayer.
To the glory of God, Wisdom later recovered, and I am happy that God kept him safe and he has retired honourably and graciously.
God has a reason for bringing people close.
Jonathan, the son of Saul in the Holy Bible, became a good friend of David, and God used Jonathan to save David’s life when Saul developed hatred for David.
Let us show genuine love, care and compassion and create opportunities for people. The messenger could be your saviour tomorrow. That house help could be your saviour tomorrow. That schoolmate could be your saviour tomorrow.
God bless you, Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo.
Writer: Pastor Michael Creg Afful,
Managing Editor, energynewsafrica.com
