PHILIPS and KNVB To Install 26 Solar Powered “Community Light Centers” In Ghana By 2015

Royal Philips Limited in partnership with the Kingdom of Netherlands Football Association [KNVB] will install about 26 Community Lighting Centers at various locations across Ghana by the year 2015.

The concept of the Community Light Centers is to create areas of light for rural communities which live without electricity, thus effectively 'extending the day and extending play' thereby creating numerous opportunities for social, sporting and economic activities in the evening.

This announcement was made known during the occasion of the Accra stop of Philips' fourth consecutive pan-African Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow.

The Road Show according to Mr. JJ van Dongen, Senior Vice President and CEO of Philips Africa: does not only showcased innovations and initiatives in Lighting and Healthcare that create a meaningful impact on people's lives in Africa but specifically highlights the benefits of Philips' LED and solar lighting solutions which offer energy efficient, cost effective and reliable on- and off-grid illumination.

The new Philips 'Community Light Center' will be opened at the Islamic Training Institute on Kanda Highway in Accra thereby enabling and supporting the KNVB's World Coaches program and their efforts for better Water, Sanitation & Hygiene in schools in Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique.

The World Coaches program trains local football coaches in using football for social development, focusing on communities in developing countries. The Football for Water Sanitation & Hygiene program is aiming at better WASH-facilities in approximately 400 schools in Ghana and the training of around 1,000 PE-teachers with Football and WASH Life Skills.

The Philips Africa CEO mentioned UNICEF, Simavi, and Vitens-Evides International as their international partners' whiles New Energy and Ghana Water Company being their local partners.

During the Cape Town to Cairo Road show, Philips and the KNVB will also organize football games with some of the world's most talented legends. These matches will be played under solar-powered LED floodlights and will highlight the role that football plays in uplifting a community.

The football legends that are joining the Ghana leg of the football tour include former Dutch football star Aron Mohammed Winter, Ghana former goalkeeper Abukari Damba as well as ex National Stars, united in PFAG (professional Footballers Association of Ghana) which is led by former player Anthony Baffoe and chaired by Real Madrid's midfielder Michael Essien.

'Africa is starting a new reliable solar powered LED lighting revolution which will save energy as well as provide lights for those without electricity' says Andre Dehmel General Manager, Philips Lighting Africa. 'Dramatic advances are being made in the efficiency of LED lighting and this is going to speed up social and economic development across the continent.'

On his part Johan van Geijn, Coordinator for International CSR Projects for KNVB World Coaches noted, 'The cooperation with Philips on Solar Lighting Centers enables the World Coaches program to have more impact on the local community with the Football for Water Sanitation & Hygiene program and to stretch the program to more rural communities - as football and life skills education will become an evening activity.'

Philips is currently installing more than a hundred 'Philips Community Light Centers' across Africa.