Ghana To Lead UN Energy For All Program

Ghana has been chosen by the United Nations to spearhead its campaign to ensure energy for all African countries by 2030, dubbed “Sustainable Energy for all by 2030”.

The decision, according to Luis Gomez Echevaria, an Executive from the office of the UN Secretary-General, was because Ghana has distinguished itself as a country striving to make energy accessible to many people in the last 20yrs. Mr. Gomez Echevaria made the disclosure when he led a delegation of stakeholders and donors in the energy sector to interact with the Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, at the Castle, Osu.

He further added that Ghana’s democratic credentials, coupled with its strong institutions and government’s zeal to develop the energy sector to increase production, made it quite easier for it to be selected by the United Nations to lead such an important program for the continent.

Mr. Dramani Mahama welcomed the decision of the United Nations, saying, the Energy for “All Program” is significant because it is in tune with government’s rural electrification program seeking to make electricity accessible to all Ghanaians.

“Government has a target to push up the country’s energy production to support locally, as well as extend it to neighboring countries in the near future”, the Vice President has stated.

He said Ghana and other West African countries have been expectant of the West African Gas Pipeline project; however, the delay in its completion has prompted government to produce its own gas.

Prof. Abeiku Brew-Hammond, Chairman of the Energy Commission Board, pledged the Commission’s cooperation to ensure the country fulfils its part of the agreement towards the sustainable energy for all program.

In related development, the French Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Frederick Clavier has called on the Vice President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama; where both gentlemen spoke on the need for the two countries to strengthen their relations in order to derive greater benefits for development.