Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has revealed that the implementation of government’s energy transition plan will help save the lives of over 48,000 Ghanaians, who on the other hand would have died prematurely due to air pollution.
According to the Minister, the energy transition plan will, among other things, “mitigate 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from greenhouse gas emissions, minimising energy-related indoor air pollution and associated diseases.”
With the expected improvement in air quality, he said, “it is estimated that forty-eight thousand, two hundred and eighteen (48,218) premature deaths will be avoided annually.”
Using 2012 data, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated the annual health impacts of ambient air pollution in Ghana (approximately 28 million people) to be 5,729 premature deaths.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh disclosed this information in a Facebook post on Wednesday when he announced that Ghana’s framework on energy transition was showcased at a High-Level Event organised by Bloomberg Philanthropies on Sustainable Energy for All on the sidelines of the ongoing COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
The Minister also indicated he and the National Energy Transition Committee were “delighted to witness the outdooring of the framework” done by President Akufo-Addo on November 8, 2022.
In his address, the President noted that it has become imperative for Ghana to develop plans and strategies toward the creation of a net-zero energy sector while aggressively pursuing the nation’s economic development.
Ghana is required to reduce her carbon dioxide emission levels as she is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and other international conventions.
The Energy Minister has assured the public that in preparing the energy transition plan, all existing policies and programmes that are being implemented towards achieving Ghana’s nationally determined contributions were considered.
According to Dr Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Ministry “will continue to work hand-in-hand with other stakeholders to ensure that we are able to meet our energy transition targets and help improve the quality of life of Ghanaians.”
The National Energy Transition Committee was instituted in December 2021, by the Energy Minister, to engage all relevant and related stakeholders across the length and breadth of the country.
Since its establishment, the Committee, led by Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has engaged the National House of Chiefs, Judicial Service, Council of State and National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS), among others on the country’s energy transition plan.
Source: The Independent Ghana