These thing made our Nhs to collapse all because foreigners were coming in to patronise it putting undue pressures.Stealing as been the hall mark of the Ndc that is why they don't want to issue out National identification car ... read full comment
These thing made our Nhs to collapse all because foreigners were coming in to patronise it putting undue pressures.Stealing as been the hall mark of the Ndc that is why they don't want to issue out National identification cards for all citizen.it will be a source for every citizen home and abroad to register.We are doing harm to this country
Kwobia (Toronto) 8 years ago
General Mosquito is right.The constant squabbling between the two dominant parties is at centre of the voters register debate.I find it shocking that more than 50yrs after independence Ghanains are arguing about who is and wh ... read full comment
General Mosquito is right.The constant squabbling between the two dominant parties is at centre of the voters register debate.I find it shocking that more than 50yrs after independence Ghanains are arguing about who is and who is not a Ghanain.Is establishing a national ID card that complicated,especially with current technology?
Alexander Kwakye 0244218188 8 years ago
Uncle Tarzan, I don't see your four point solution going without challenges, in that, evidence of citizenship be it physical or documentary, will be required before one can be issued with a national ID card. the usual problem ... read full comment
Uncle Tarzan, I don't see your four point solution going without challenges, in that, evidence of citizenship be it physical or documentary, will be required before one can be issued with a national ID card. the usual problems bedeviling the voter registration can resurrect due to the lack of the culture of keeping historical records on individuals and the state. Go to any literate society and you can trace the birth records of a 90 year old man in the hospital in which he was born, the contrary is the case in Ghana. go to a hospital or clinic you visited just a year ago and see if they trace your records? both the educated and the uneducated lack the common sense of record keeping. we rather need a mental orientation in that regard before thinking of a homogeneous nationality, until then we ought accept loose national identity paradigm and forge ahead hoping for a better one.
Major 7 years ago
Even while we are grappling with solving today's situation, what are we doing to prevent today's problems from recurring in the future? It's far easier for us to keep records of births and deaths today than it was just 20 yea ... read full comment
Even while we are grappling with solving today's situation, what are we doing to prevent today's problems from recurring in the future? It's far easier for us to keep records of births and deaths today than it was just 20 years ago. Technology makes that possible. Even if you get born in a village, you can still register in the nearest town and get into the records. What are we doing to effect that?
With good record keeping, there will even not be any need to register to vote because every eligible voter would already have been known and invited to vote...
witch hunter 8 years ago
No wonder you holds PhD degree Dr Broobey,I like your writes up, not like okoampa ahoofe the so called acclaimed professor who teaches english in the USA,An African English teacher in America?hahaha!!!
No wonder you holds PhD degree Dr Broobey,I like your writes up, not like okoampa ahoofe the so called acclaimed professor who teaches english in the USA,An African English teacher in America?hahaha!!!
K Fosu 8 years ago
Think about it for one minute, he holds Ph.D in Solar Science. What has he done for the advancement of solar energy in Ghana? Nothing!
None of the guys working on the "Nzema
solar" project holds a Ph.D in the field of sola ... read full comment
Think about it for one minute, he holds Ph.D in Solar Science. What has he done for the advancement of solar energy in Ghana? Nothing!
None of the guys working on the "Nzema
solar" project holds a Ph.D in the field of solar science yet they are doing a marvellous job. And all he is telling us is how to implement the Napoleonic cum Hitler idea of ID cards.At best he was the chairman of Ghana@50 who wasted millions of our hard currency in importing expensive cars. He should have been at the forefront of the solar revolution in Ghana instead of sitting on his backside running a hydro-electric company called VRA.
Read about this project and check the profiles of those involved to see the hopelessness of this so-called "energy expert" a.k.a Tarzan in Ghana.
It has taken some white men with less qualification than "Tarzan" to come to Ghana to fix our energy problems.
Africa’s largest solar (PV) power plant
5th August 2015
Blue Energy is to build Africa’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in a move which could spark a renewable energy revolution in West Africa.
The giant 155-megawatt Nzema project will be one of the biggest in the world – only three solar PV plants in operation today are bigger. It will increase Ghana’s current generating capacity by 6% and will meet 20% of the government’s target of generating 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
The Nzema project will be the first to go ahead under Ghana’s 2011 Renewable Energy Act, which set up a system of feed-in tariffs, and it is a success for the government’s policy of attracting international finance. Last month Energy Minister Joe Oteng-Adjei announced he was seeking $1 billion of private investment to help Ghana achieve its renewables target.
The US $350 million scheme, which will be fully operational in 2017, demonstrates Blue Energy’s ability to mount major projects in the region. The UK-based renewable energy investor and developer plans to develop further renewable energy power plants in West Africa and has a number of projects in the pipeline.
AFRICA’S RENEWABLES POTENTIAL
Chris Dean, CEO of Blue Energy, said: “Ghana’s forward-thinking strategy puts it in a strong position to lead the renewable energy revolution in sub-Saharan Africa. Nzema is a case study in how governments can unlock the huge potential for solar energy in Africa. We are delighted that it will make a strong contribution to the national economy, provide much needed generating capacity and help develop the skills of the future.”
He added: “There’s huge potential to develop renewable power in the region. We believe Nzema will show other countries what can be achieved and spur them to action.”
Blue Energy has secured all the consents it needs to go ahead with the project. Ghana’s electricity regulators, the Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, have awarded it a generation licence and a feed-in tariff for the plant’s 20-year operational life and the project has a power purchase agreement with electrical supplier ECG.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE INTEREST
Blue Energy will now conclude discussions with a number of international financial institutions and global equity and infrastructure funds which have expressed interest in providing debt financing or investing in the project. It expects to reach financial close in the first half of 2016.
The Nzema plant will be built by a subsidiary of Blue Energy, Mere Power Nzema Ltd, on a 183- hectare site close to the village of Aiwiaso in Western Ghana. It has secured a 50-year lease on the site, planning permission and permission to connect to the grid.
ECONOMIC GROWTH PROSPECTS
The site enjoys good solar radiation, has excellent access to the major road system and is within easy reach of a deep water port at Takoradi. The plant will be directly connected to the 161kV West African Power Pool transmission line, which runs alongside the site, linking Ghana to Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Nigeria, and has available capacity for its load.
Installation of more than 630,000 solar PV modules will begin by the end of middle of 2016 and electricity generation will start later the same year, with sections coming on stream as they are completed. The project is due to reach full capacity by late 2017.
The project will boost the economy of Western Ghana. It will create 500 jobs over the two-year construction period and 200 permanent jobs in operation. It is also expected to stimulate another 2100 jobs in the local economy, by sub-contracting activities to local companies and increasing demand for goods, services and education.
The company has put in place a wide-ranging program to satisfy its corporate social responsibility obligations and enjoys extensive support from local communities. They will also benefit through land lease revenues, access to reliable electricity, new healthcare facilities, skills training, investment in schools, and support for community projects and small businesses.
Nzema is expected to contribute US$100 million in tax to Ghana’s government over the lifetime of the project. Its clean energy will avoid emissions of 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 (based on an oil-fired power station with equivalent output).
Ghana is one of the fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa, with 14.4% GDP growth in 2011. Demand for power is growing at 10-15% a year, but lack of reliable generating capacity has acted as a brake on the economy: power shortages are estimated to have cost 1.9% of GDP in 2006. Much of Ghana’s electricity is hydroelectric, but this is vulnerable to drought, and the country is increasingly reliant on expensive oil generation.
The government has set a target of more than doubling its installed capacity, from 2600 MW today to 5500MW by 2015. The Renewable Energy Act is a key part of this strategy and enjoys all party political support.
THE LONG TERM OPPORTUNITY
Africa is ideally placed to take advantage of solar energy, but up to now it has failed to take off for a variety of reasons including unsupportive regulatory environments, energy underpricing, lack of technical capacity and a weak supply chain. In meeting the Act’s target of generating 10% of energy through renewables, Ghana will develop skills, industries, and government and regulatory experience to take advantage of future investment opportunities throughout the continent.
All Ghanaians will do well to read this essay, officials and non-officials.
Greetings!
kaketonti 8 years ago
GHANA IS FREE.BUT,FOR ONE MAN WHO WANTS TO REALISE HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM TO BE PRESIDENT AT ALL COST.K4 UNITED GHANA.AND WON THE ELECTION WITH SAME DOCUMENTATION/VOTER REGISTER.NEVER TOO LATE.LET'S START TO ORGANISE AND HAVE PR ... read full comment
GHANA IS FREE.BUT,FOR ONE MAN WHO WANTS TO REALISE HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM TO BE PRESIDENT AT ALL COST.K4 UNITED GHANA.AND WON THE ELECTION WITH SAME DOCUMENTATION/VOTER REGISTER.NEVER TOO LATE.LET'S START TO ORGANISE AND HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION OF ALL LIVING IN GHANA
kaketonti 8 years ago
Re-write:ALL LIVING IN/OUTSIDE GHANA
Re-write:ALL LIVING IN/OUTSIDE GHANA
Charles Agbenu 7 years ago
''The case for a national ID card becomes more and more compelling each day, photo, thumb print and all'''
Do u think NDC are interested in National Identification?
Even Nkrumah was never interested. All our neighbours ... read full comment
''The case for a national ID card becomes more and more compelling each day, photo, thumb print and all'''
Do u think NDC are interested in National Identification?
Even Nkrumah was never interested. All our neighbours have ID. Ghana alone has not since 1957
Who do you blame for that?.
NDC and their cohorts wont do it. They will not let NPP who are interested to do it. Since 2009, they took over they have messed up with the idea. Ghanaians have allowed that, Ghanaianas dont seem to have an outrage. Ghana is wobbling along with NDC recklessness, insincerity, mediocrity and perfuntory rule
These thing made our Nhs to collapse all because foreigners were coming in to patronise it putting undue pressures.Stealing as been the hall mark of the Ndc that is why they don't want to issue out National identification car ...
read full comment
General Mosquito is right.The constant squabbling between the two dominant parties is at centre of the voters register debate.I find it shocking that more than 50yrs after independence Ghanains are arguing about who is and wh ...
read full comment
Uncle Tarzan, I don't see your four point solution going without challenges, in that, evidence of citizenship be it physical or documentary, will be required before one can be issued with a national ID card. the usual problem ...
read full comment
Even while we are grappling with solving today's situation, what are we doing to prevent today's problems from recurring in the future? It's far easier for us to keep records of births and deaths today than it was just 20 yea ...
read full comment
No wonder you holds PhD degree Dr Broobey,I like your writes up, not like okoampa ahoofe the so called acclaimed professor who teaches english in the USA,An African English teacher in America?hahaha!!!
Think about it for one minute, he holds Ph.D in Solar Science. What has he done for the advancement of solar energy in Ghana? Nothing!
None of the guys working on the "Nzema
solar" project holds a Ph.D in the field of sola ...
read full comment
Coherent, balanced, internally consistent analysis!
All Ghanaians will do well to read this essay, officials and non-officials.
Greetings!
GHANA IS FREE.BUT,FOR ONE MAN WHO WANTS TO REALISE HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM TO BE PRESIDENT AT ALL COST.K4 UNITED GHANA.AND WON THE ELECTION WITH SAME DOCUMENTATION/VOTER REGISTER.NEVER TOO LATE.LET'S START TO ORGANISE AND HAVE PR ...
read full comment
Re-write:ALL LIVING IN/OUTSIDE GHANA
''The case for a national ID card becomes more and more compelling each day, photo, thumb print and all'''
Do u think NDC are interested in National Identification?
Even Nkrumah was never interested. All our neighbours ...
read full comment