Features
Need to develop good mix of energy
• 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
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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