We need more renewable energy laboratories in Northern Ghana- Hon Mohammed Amin
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Hon Mohammed Amin Adam has called for more energy laboratories to be established in the northern part of Ghana in readiness of the national energy transition plan.
Speaking at the energy sector forum in Wa to solicit ideas on how the country can move towards the Net-Zero future, the Karaga legislator said it requires extra effort to check the rate of emissions at all levels in the energy sector.
According to the MP, renewable energy laboratories should be set up in Poly techniques and Universities in the north to train the people to work in the sector during the transition.
“There is no justification where out of 6 energy laboratories, 5 are situated in the south. We need more laboratories in the northern part of Ghana. If they are training people in the south to work in the oil industry, we must train our people to work in the renewable energy industry because this is the face.” He said.
The Energy sector contribute much more than any sector to the emissions profile of the country because the sector generates power and electricity for industries that are into manufacturing, hospitality, commercial and for use in homes. The sector also provide fuel, petrol and diesel for transportation purposes.
Ghana has an overarching climate adoptation and mitigation plan and strategy already and it is only proper to have a detailed proposal on how to achieve the Net-Zero Future.
The Net-Zero Future is a grand scheme to stop emissions in the environment and the economy with efforts through adaptation, mitigation, carbon removals and changing of attitudes.
The transition from the use of fossil fuel to clean energy according to the lawmaker will include the mitigation of the consequences involved and harnessing the opportunities that comes with it.
“What measures to save us from the consequences that comes with transition. What measures to harness the opportunities. As we transition, how do we address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities.” The deputy Minister for Energy quizzed.
Highlighting some of the advantages through the transition, Hon Amin Adam noted that people will be trained to install, operate, manage and maintain renewable energy technologies.
He therefore urged the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) to introduce Renewable energy engineering department to help in the transition.
Touching on some of the consequences that comes with the transition, he explained that Ghana will lose oil revenue though the production of oil in the country will still go on.
He further told the gathering that fuel stations across the country will lay off workers which will increase the unemployment situation in the country.
In his part, the deputy Transportation Minister, Hon Hassan Tampuli said their attention is focused mainly on technological shift away from petrol and diesel fuels to a more benign alternative.
He said the Transportation Ministry is currently developing an immobility policy to guide the development and deployment and scale up of electric vehicles in the country.
He added that government is also working assiduously to introduce the first ever battery powered electric buses as well as gas powered buses for public transportation.
