Accra: The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has expressed support for the government’s initiative to augment Ghana’s national grid with an additional 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The move is seen as a significant enhancement to the nation’s energy security. COPEC Executive Secretary Duncan Amoah articulated this viewpoint during an appearance on Channel One TV, asserting that the project is essential for addressing the country’s escalating electricity demands.
According to Ghana Web, Amoah emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “1,200 is a lot. If they can realise that, what it means is that the foreseeable generation deficits that over time we develop because of development and expansion in our cities will be catered for.” Despite his support for the plan, Amoah urged the government to expedite the shift from thermal power to renewable energy sources, particularly solar.
Amoah explained that investing in solar energy would alleviate Ghana’s reliance on expensive fuel. He stated, “You cannot continue to have your power plants consume heavy fuel oil and light crude oil. Every now and then you are burning a lot of money to be able to put your grid on. So if you diversify, you are taking off a bit of the pressure that the grid ordinarily would have had to sustain.”
Additionally, Amoah praised some banks for their efforts to finance solar installations for households, suggesting that more banks should adopt similar policies. “I am also happy that some of the banks have now made it a policy that if you want solar installations, they are going to provide finance for you so that you pay over a period of time. I think all Ghanaian banks should be pushed in that direction,” he noted.
Amoah advocated for increased household use of solar panels to generate electricity, saying, “At least for domestic use, you should be able to have some five or 10 panels, generate something, turn on your fan, keep your fridge on and be able to run as a normal household.” He also highlighted China’s investment in large-scale solar farms as a model for Ghana to emulate. “It tells you that as a country that is not going to be able to continue to pay for power from the thermal wing, you need to begin to diversify the mix. I am happy that that was captured,” he said.