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Ghana ready to lead Africa’s industrial renaissance – President Mahama assures as he cuts sod for Dawa Industrial Enclave Solar Park project
President John Dramani Mahama has assured investors of Ghana’s preparedness to spearhead an industrial revolution that will not only transform its economy but also serve as a catalyst for Africa’s next phase of development.
The President was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a Solar Park at Agortor in the Dawa Industrial Enclave of the Greater Accra Region.
The project, which is being executed by Solar for Industries Limited (SFI), a subsidiary of LMI Holdings Limited, will be in two phases, beginning with an initial 200 MWp installation.
The first, with a capacity of 100MWp — about 2% of Ghana’s total power supply — is expected to be completed by December 2026, while the additional 100MWp will be added to the grid after 9 months.
This is expected to be expanded to 1,000 megawatts (MWp) by 2032, making it the largest and only private utility-scale solar farm in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa.
President Mahama, who was impressed by the company’s vision, said the Solar for Industries initiative supports a broader environmental agenda and aligns with the Blue Water Guards, the Tree for Life Reforestation Programme, and the Clean Ghana Campaign.
“This is how development should work, one project generating many opportunities,” he noted. The president added that the project symbolises the growing investor confidence in Ghana and that the ongoing reforms by his government are aimed at ensuring a win-win situation for both Ghana and businesses.
“Let us build this project with integrity, speed, and purpose, so that when we return here to commission it, we can all say with pride that this is the dawn of Ghana’s clean industrial revolution.”
He observed that Ghana’s long-term energy vision is founded on three pillars: sovereignty, sustainability, and the security of supply. “Sovereignty involves generating more of our energy locally and using the sun, wind, and water provided by nature to do so.”
He continued, “As we pursue industrial growth, we must also restore our natural heritage. Our rivers must run clear, our forests must regenerate, and our communities must breathe clean and fresh air.”
President Mahama observed that such initiatives are already transforming Ghana, emphasising that the SFI project is not just a power plant but a message that Ghana is prepared to lead the next phase of Africa’s industrial renaissance, energised by the sun, propelled by innovation, and upheld by their collective determination.
“As we cut the sod, let us remember that every light that shines from this Solar Park will illuminate not just the factories and homes, but the aspirations of millions of Ghanaians whose dreams rely on energy and power,”
Mr Kojo Aduhene, the Chief Executive Officer of Quarm Investments, announced that upon completion of the project, industries located in the Dawa Industrial Enclave taking power from them would enjoy a 10% discount.
He said the project demonstrates and supports an opportunity in the 24-Hour Economy, aligns with industrialisation, and shows the world that Ghana is very much open for business.
The project implementing partners include the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, Enclave Power Company, John Murphy Construction (JMC), China International Water and Electric Corp (CIWE) and SgurrEnergy.
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ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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