Energy Minister charges GRIDCo to strengthen preventive maintenance and system monitoring

The government in Ghana is dedicated to constructing a sustainable energy system that guarantees consistent power supply, enabling support for other economic sectors, according to Mr Sulemana Abubakari, the Director of Power at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition. Abubakari emphasized that developing such a system through innovative policies would bolster energy security, minimize losses, enhance power distribution performance, and fortify the nation's energy transmission and system reliability.

This commitment was highlighted during a public lecture and the inauguration of the Master of Science in Energy Management and Policy programme at Accra Metropolitan University, held on Wednesday under the theme: 'Powering Ghana’s Future: Energy Security, Sustainable Transition and Policy Innovation.'

Abubakari stressed the government's focus on boosting efficiency and financing within the power sector to meet the escalating demand for sustainable and reliable electricity across various economic sectors like manufacturing, mining, agriculture, digitalization, and enterprises. He affirmed that the government aimed to establish an energy sector that supports present-day manufacturing, mining, agriculture, digitalization, and enterprises, while concurrently building a sustainable energy system poised to drive future economic growth.

Additionally, Abubakari disclosed that the government was striving to broaden the utilization of renewable energy, maintain grid stability, and attract investments in the energy sector to assure a steady and dependable power supply. He pointed out that energy transition, climate commitments, and evolving expectations of international investors were reshaping how energy would be generated, financed, and consumed.

Abubakari underscored the necessity of cultivating professionals proficient in planning, operating, regulating, and financing energy assets, such as transmission lines, solar farms, and power plants, to ensure a profitable investment return in the sector.

Professor Goski Alabi, the Vice-Chancellor of Accra Metropolitan University, noted in her introductory remarks that the postgraduate program integrated policy, innovation, management, and sustainability, equipping graduates with the requisite knowledge and skills to significantly contribute to energy security and the nation's transition towards a more resilient and sustainable energy future.

Dr Kwame Agyeman-Badu, the Coordinator of the Energy Management and Policy Programme at the university, asserted that governmental decisions would shape the destiny of Ghana's power sector.