The era of cheap energy is over - Sorogho

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy, Hon. Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, has called on Ghanaians to bear with government over the high cost of electricity and help in finding a lasting solution to the current power shortages.

Hon. Sorogho pointed out that the country can no longer rely on the Akosombo hydro dam and as a result, made it imperative for government to look for alternative sources of power which comes at a relatively high cost.

“There is no way we can enjoy sustainable energy at a cheap cost” since it demands a lot of financial investment, Hon. Sorogho submitted in Accra yesterday at a round table discussions on finding a lasting solution to the power crisis in Ghana. The event was organised by the Institute of Green Growth Solutions in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stitung. It was themed, ‘providing Lasting Solutions to Energy Conundrum.'

Currently 70% of the country's energy supply is derived from alternative sources such as the power badges in Tema, the Asogli Power Plant, import of electricity from the Ivory Coast among others, thus making electricity production and supply very expensive for government to continue to subsidize.

Speaking on the topic, 'The Way Forward for Sustainable Energy Demand and Supply in Ghana,' Hon. Sorogho said the key hindrance to finding a lasting solution to the energy crisis in the country is the over politicization of energy related issues, therefore, the first step in finding solution will be by taken away partisan politics from energy issues and treating the issue as national issue that needs urgent attention in order to find a lasting solution.

He also entreated Ghanaians to adopt the habit of energy conservation in order to avoid wasting the little energy available.

Mr Kwabena Yante, executive member of the Association of Ghana industries stated that renewable energy such the use of solar, wind and biogas to generate electricity should be to be adopted if the country hopes to make any strides in the fight against the recurrent power crisis.

Mr Yante stated that though industry has benefitted from the hydro dams, their power generative capacity has been exhausted and has shrunk to providing only 30 percent of the energy consumption of the nation.

He urged the private sector to take advantage of the opportunities provided by technological development in solar and wind energy production and invest in the sector of renewable energy production which can be sold to homes and government.

He said the financial sector must also be willing to invest money into private energy producing companies as they collaborate with government to find a lasting solution to the power crisis.

On his part Dr William Ahadzi, a Policy Analyst and Head of Research of the ruling National Democratic Congress stated that the government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the energy crisis and even hope to export power to our neighbouring countries.

Dr. Ahadzi said the government is focusing on implementing long term measures that tackles the problem through Public Private Partnership in the renewable energy sector.

He also stated that government is also researching and exploring the use of clean coal technology to generate electricity.