Alternative Energy Inspires Home Decisions In Accra....Residents Are Looking For Alternatives In Light Of Ghana’s Power Challenge

Inhabitants of Accra have made alternative energy their priority in housing decisions according to a survey conducted by real estate portal Lamudi .

The survey indicated that 43 percent of respondents are looking for other sources of energy for their homes. 16 percent of these respondents said they are looking to move into homes that provide such services.

According to these respondents, alternative sources of electricity have become important because of the current load shedding program commonly known in Ghana as ‘dumsor’.

Some respondents said they would like to move into neighborhoods that had constant flow of electricity. Others cited availability of power generators and solar technology as important factors that would inform their housing decision.

Of the total number of respondents, seven percent said they were unaffected by the load shedding.

Ghana has experienced erratic power supply for three years now. The government has pledged to end the crisis by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, real estate developers have been urged to incorporate renewable sources of energy such as solar technology. The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye in March this year urged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to encourage developers to include renewable energy in their building plans.

His statement, together with Lamudi’s findings, lends further credence for the need to satisfy growing demand for renewable energy.

Akua Nyame-Mensah, Managing Director of Lamudi Ghana said, “Using alternative forms of energy reduces costs and demand on the national grid. That said, our environment also benefits from such use as there is less pollution. As a country, we need to use renewable energy sources to generate electricity as they are sustainable."