Akufo-Addo promises to tap wind potentials to support energy sector

Kumasi, April 19, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said that his administration would forge a closer collaboration with the private sector to develop wind resources to complement the traditional energy supply sources.

He said studies conducted by the Energy Commission showed that Ghana has ample wind resources that could be exploited for energy purposes.

"This calls for serious attention to be given to tapping this potential to enhance sustainable energy supply." Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking at the energy seminar series organised by the Energy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Friday. It was on the theme "Flagbearers on Energy". He was the last to deliver his paper at the seminar that aimed at giving the candidates the opportunity to highlight to the public their vision for the energy sector if given the mandate in the December polls.

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr Edward Mahama of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Mr John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took turns to share their vision with the public.

Nana Akufo-Addo said besides, his administration would also work hard to further develop the energy potentials inherent in solar, bio-fuels, fuel cells and nuclear as alternative sources of renewable energy.

Touching on solar for instance, he said though with current technology it was not the cheapest source of energy, in terms of generation and transmission on the national grid, the nation needed to stay and engaged in the evolutionary process of this technology and benefit from it in the years ahead.

"Every Region in Ghana receives an average of 1,900 hours of sunshine a year", he said and added that there was therefore an abundance of solar energy ready to be tapped.

He said in furtherance of advancing this technology his administration would apply economies of scale and advancements in technology to ensure that prices of solar technology dropped sharply to make solar energy practical and affordable to benefit the nation. "We could for example require by regulations that from 2015 all new buildings must be solar dependent. For existing buildings, we will consider providing tax incentives to convert them into solar sufficient buildings by 2020", he noted.

On his plans for northern Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that he was committed to ensure that the availability of energy from the Bui Dam complemented by the establishment of the Northern Development Fund provided tremendous opportunity for the massive and rapid transformation of the northern sector of the country. administration in view of the deprived conditions in the north.

Nana Akufo-Addo said his administration will also be committed to a stronger public-private partnership to provide an alternative approach to financing major public sector projects in respect of the energy sector.

To this end therefore, the NPP government would seek to develop the small and mini hydro potentials spread over various locations on the Black Volta, White Volta, rivers Oti, Pra and Tano to allow for free flow of power.

Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, commended the various presidential candidates for honouring the invitation of the university to share their views and vision on energy and hoped they would put into practice these ideas when given the mandate.