Green Microfinance Global constructs biogas

Green Microfinance Global Limited, a United States-based microfinance company has provided the people of Domeabra in the Ejisu Juaben District in the Ashanti Region with biogas digester.

The project, which was sited in Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture (KITA), was constructed in collaboration with Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (CEESD) at the cost of 5,000 dollars.

Mrs Elizabeth Israel, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Green Microfinance Global Limited in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the inauguration of the project at the district explained that the biogas digester is one of the innovation solutions that her organisation is deploying in Ghana on pilot stages.

She said the innovation would provide all benefits of biogas technology to the institute and also to establish it as a climate smart agricultural facility, which would combine agriculture, water, sanitation, hygiene and renewable energy.

She said the project would also deploy biogas digester to households in the community. Mrs Israel said her company is committed to find climate smart solutions to the challenges facing African countries.

She expressed happiness for the support and commitment of KITA and CEESD in employing the local people to help construct the project.

Mr Edward Antwi, a technical expert of CEESD told the GNA that the project is the first of two biogas digesters constructed in the community.

He said the biogas uses “the floating drum technology to process human excreta to generate gas for cooking and organic fertilizer for farming to improve agriculture practices in the Domeabra community”.

Mr Samuel Owusu-Takyi, Director of KITA, explained that his organisation is committed to work with its partners to bring innovative solutions to improve the livelihoods of farmers.

“The gesture had come at an opportune time, complementing the overall ongoing developments and activities within the community,” he said.

Mr Owusu-Takyi expressed gratefulness to the microfinance company for the innovative development oriented activities being implemented to support agriculture and renewable energy interventions.

Madam Rose Manu, a beneficiary of the project commended the company, saying: “I will stop buying firewood and charcoal for cooking and to avoid the extensive smoke that emits from the traditional cookstoves,”