Government buildings to go solar – Agyarko

The Akufo-Addo-led government intends to ensure that all government buildings and facilities across the country are powered by solar energy, Boakye Agyarko, Minister of Energy, has said.

According to him, the government’s plan to usher the country into a solar-driven economy will save the country huge sums of money and also reduce the load on the national grid.

Speaking on day two of the National Policy Summit which started on Monday May 15, Mr Agyarko said: “Renewable energy is my passion and I will want to implore all Ghanaians to look in the direction of renewable energy. It means that we have to promote the use of solar. It [solar] is the abundant resource that God gave to us.

“We seek to make sure that all government buildings and facilities are put on solar. Two reasons or two benefits: it reduces the amount of money that government has to make allocations for in its budget and it also reduces the load on the national grid.

“Solar recommends itself and in due course we will make another presentation just on renewable energy.”

He added: “We ought to be able, as a sub-region, to plan and harmonise our resources in such a way that we leverage it to our advantage. For example, it is estimated that by 2020 we will have 1700MW of excess capacity which will cost us US$680million annually. I want to change that excess capacity into an export capacity.”