3 weeks ago
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The Ghana Science Association is calling on the government to be firmed in phasing out overaged (10 years and over) energy inefficient electrical appliances to promote energy use efficiency in the country.
The association further tasked the government to facilitate the creation of industries for the local manufacturing of clean energy components as well as the private sector in order to invest in development and commercialisation of energy efficient technologies and solutions.
These were contained in a 14-point recommendation in a communique issued at the end of the 19th biennial workshop of the Ghana Science Association (GSA) held at the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Bono Region.
The GSA is a national multidisciplinary group of Scientists, Technologists, Engineers, Mathematicians, and Industrialists that seeks to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country through scientific and technological research formulation and implementation of national policy in science, technology and innovation.
The workshop was held on the theme: ‘Innovative, Affordable and Sustainable Energy Supply in Ghana for the 4th Industrial Revolution’ and brought together stakeholders, scientists, and policy makers to interact and deliberate on the state of Ghana’s energy transition preparedness.
Furthermore, it also served as platform on which participants shared cutting-edge knowledge and showcased successful projects and best practices in energy transitions globally.
It emphasised the need for the country to foster innovative and affordable approaches to energy transition as these are essential for ensuring equitable energy supply.
The GSA observed that the country needed its own petrochemical industry in order to secure its energy transition to avoid stranded assets, adding that synergy between academia and industry was necessary in advancing homegrown technologies considered to be crucial for achieving greater partnerships in energy transitions.
Moreover, it stressed the need for the Ministry of Energy and Energy Commission to promote and encourage the usage of cost-effective energy appliances where conscious effort is to scale-up renewable energy adoption by institutions and organisations across the country were of essence.
The state should strengthen policy and regulatory framework relating to energy transition, security and affordability, allocate funds for research into clean and affordable energy to support research institutes and universities in the field, and inclusion energy transition curricula in schools were among the recommendations reached at the workshop.
BY TIMES REPORTER
