Former Chair of the Energy Committee of Parliament, Samuel Atta Akyea, clashed with National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP Edward Bawa over the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) plan to introduce 2,000 megawatts of solar power into Ghana’s energy mix.
According to the NPP Manifesto, this initiative aims to reduce Ghana’s dependency on hydro and thermal energy sources, shifting towards cleaner and cheaper sources.
On Wednesday, the Abuakwa South MP explained on JoyNews’ PM Express that the NPP will partner with the private sector to integrate solar power into Ghana’s energy mix.
“Our manifesto is very clear that one of the main pillars of ensuring sufficient energy is to go solar. So if we can roll out solar in the neighborhood of 2,000 megawatts, we will be able to keep the lights on,” he said.
He added, “Given our financial space, we should not discount what the private sector can contribute. Because of our current challenges, including high expenditure and debt, we need to give the private sector space to intervene, and they will be able to help us with it.”
According to him, the government’s role is to create an investment-friendly environment and provide assurance to the private sector on how they will recover their investment.
However, Member of the Energy Committee of Parliament and NDC Manifesto Spokesperson on Energy, Edward Bawa, described the plan as poorly conceived. He argued that the NPP lacks a clear understanding of what is needed to make Ghana’s energy self-sufficient.
“One of the most nonsensical things I have ever seen in a manifesto is the NPP’s claim that they would add 2,000 megawatts of solar—a variable source—to our system. Technically, it doesn’t make sense.
“First and foremost, the intermittent nature of renewable energy means that any time you add renewable energy, you must have a corresponding conventional plant to supply energy when renewables cannot.”
He added that the biggest threat to keeping the lights on is financial constraints.
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