Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that Ghana is firmly on the path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, driven by a range of initiatives, including the adoption of clean cooking technologies and the expansion of renewable energy sources.
He elaborated that the nation is actively working to raise the proportion of renewable energy in its energy mix from the current 42.5 megawatts to an impressive 1,363.63 megawatts.
Dr. Prempeh made this announcement in a statement that was delivered on his behalf at the opening of the 11th edition of the West African Clean Energy and Environment Trade Fair and Conference (WACEE ’23) in Accra.
The conference was on the theme “Leading a Sustainable Transition.”
Dr. Prempeh alluded to the upcoming launch of the National Energy Transition & Investment Plan, which will outline a structured roadmap for Ghana to achieve net-zero emissions. This ambitious plan is expected to require an estimated investment of approximately USD 550 billion.
He said, “An effective transition to clean energy in any country requires an approach that strikes a fair balance between environmental objectives on one hand and economic as well as social objectives on another hand.”
The minister said it was only by such an approach that the gains of the transition could serve the economies within which they occurred in a lasting manner.
“In this sense, calls for a just energy transition are in actuality calls for a sustainable energy transition,” he said.
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Daniel Krull, emphasized that the global community currently has a remarkable chance to harness existing technologies and innovations in order to safeguard the environment rather than endanger it.
“In other words, West Africa can solve many of today’s problems without compromising the environment. We already have good examples of first movers in areas such as renewable energy or waste-to-energy solutions,” he said.
Mr Burkharadt Hellemann, Delegate, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, said there was an urgent need for countries to take steps to mitigate the impact of climate change, one of the planetary crises.
“Together, we aspire to accelerate the region’s journey toward a more sustainable future. We firmly believe that collaboration, especially between Germany and the nations of West Africa, is pivotal to leading this transition,” he said.
The WACEE 23 brought together stakeholders and policymakers to deliberate on clean energy, circular economy and water management.
