Energy Commission Renewable Energy Challenge: Government urged to fund TVET students to develop renewable energy prototypes

The Energy Commission's Renewable Energy Challenge in Ghana has reignited calls for increased government support for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students. During the event held in the Ashanti Region, students from across the nation displayed innovative prototypes aimed at enhancing the country's renewable energy sector.

However, the competition's coordinator, George Sarpong, highlighted inadequate funding as a critical barrier to the development of these student-led projects. Sarpong emphasized the financial burden faced by participating schools, which often require up to GH¢35,000 to create their prototypes. He urged the government and other stakeholders to provide critical financial backing for research, prototype creation, and the scaling up of these innovations.

The challenge, which involves teams from both northern and southern regions, has seen Ahantaman Girls’ Senior High School triumph in the southern zone, while Dabokpa Senior High Technical School claimed victory in the north. The winners have urged relevant ministries and authorities to not only support their innovations but also to facilitate their wider implementation, particularly in rural areas where solar energy could greatly benefit farming communities.