• The Akosombo Dam has served a good purpose since the first republic

The world has become so competitive that countries all over are doing all they can in terms of energy development to stimulate industrial development and formation of various forms of business so as to be able to survive within this competitive environment.

To be able to survive in the competitive environment, countries must be able to develop their sources of energy to be able to promote various commercial and economic activities to satisfy local demands as well as demand from external sources.  If a country does not have reliable energy, it will be difficult for such a country to be able to seriously undertake production to satisfy its needs.

There are various sources of energy in the world which include nuclear, hydro, thermal and wind.

Any of these sources of energy can be utilised effectively for industrial and economic growth. If these sources are brought together in a form of energy mix, the better it will be for the country concerned. Many countries have built such forms of energy in order to promote their economic growth. In Ghana, generation of electricity from hydro is well known. The Akosombo Dam has served a good purpose since the first republic, helping the country to undertake the promotion of businesses. One disadvantage regarding hydro power is that, it cannot be reliable at all times especially when the rainfall pattern proves to be unfavourable even though it is a cheap source of energy.

In 1983 for example, the rainfall was highly unfavourable in Ghana and bushfires were very common. As a result, the country had to resort to rationing of power. A few places could enjoy electricity for some days while others remained in darkness until the situation was rotated to make other places have a fair share of their power supply.

Realising the danger associated with the hydropower, President Kufuor negotiated for a Chinese loan close to 650million US Dollars to put up another dam at Bui in Bono and Ahafo regions. Before the building of the Bui dam, the late Gen. Acheampong also did his best to build another Dam at Kpone. All these were done to ensure that there was enough supply of energy for the country.

It became clear, however, that the country could not depend on hydropower alone and for this reason, a thermal plant was also developed at Aboadze in the Western Region. This added more energy to what was already available in the country.

The disadvantage with thermal power is that when oil prices begin to go up as they are doing now, the cost of generating energy also rises, making life unbearable. Thermal power can be enjoyed very well only when oil prices are very low.

It is interesting to note that Ghana does not only depend on hydro and thermal power but solar energy also. Solar energy is reliable because it is sustainable since the sun is always available to generate it. However, the initial cost of installing solar panels for the generation of solar power is always very high at the initial stages but once the panels are installed, the cost begins to reduce over time. The solar panels serve as one-time cost of production unlike other sources of power the cost of which may have to be encountered from time to time.

For countries in the tropics such as Ghana, the abundant sunshine available at all times should not be made to go to waste. This explains why when President Akufo-Addo promoted solar energy project in the northern part of the country; it was seen as a very welcoming move. The solar project up north even though had an initial high cost will prove to be cheap with time since no major cost will be incurred again.

All that we need to do is to safeguard the existence of the solar panels and protect them from human activities such as throwing of stones on the panels to destroy them. If these solar panels are protected well, they will prove to be a reliable source of energy.

In August 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, commissioned the Volta River Authority’s 13 megawatt (13MW) Solar Power Project. He cut the sod for the project in February 2020.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the project, which is the first phase of what will eventually be a 28 megawatt (28MW) plant at Kaleo in the Upper West Region was meant to add to the energy supply in the country.

As a result of the project, thousands of people around that vicinity will be connected to the national grid, a move that will promote socioeconomic development in the area. It shows that Ghana is moving from strength to strength as far as business promotion in all parts of the country is concerned.

The President reiterated government’s commitment to further diversify the country’s energy generation portfolio, and increase the nation’s renewable energy generation mix. This move by the President is highly commendable.

The sources of energy in Ghana – hydro, thermal and solar – go to show that the government is very much aware of the critical role reliable energy plays in transforming industrialisation and ensuring economic growth. It takes visionary leadership to realise this insight especially at a time when economic conditions have been made very difficult by the COVID-19 experience as well as the unfavourable effects of the Russian-Ukraine war.

The government has made it clear that nuclear energy should also be explored to the full since that source of energy can help the country in its economic developmental agenda. Nuclear energy is good but has not been explored to the full so if the time has come for that energy to be explored for the benefit of the country, then the better it is for the nation.

We need to continue to support this government since its vision is in line with the growth, advancement and prosperity of the country. If the country can continue in this way in the next 20 or 30 decades, the people of Ghana will be the beneficiaries of this positive agenda.

BY DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO

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