Generational Thinking And Attitudes In Ghana: The Case Of Recurring Energy Crisis

The worsening of the energy situation in Ghana has brought in its wake a plethora of suggestions on how to deal with the crisis. There are those who believe the Nation can attain energy sufficiency by increasing solar and thermal sources of energy in addition to other sources such as wind.These group of people are convinced that the hydro source of energy is no longer reliable in view of the perennial problem of low level of water in dams of the hydro electric dams.

Experts have however raised concerns about the huge environmental cost in terms of pollution and its financial cost efficiency relative to the hydro electric source.

In view of the concerns raised in respect of the renewable sources ,another group of Ghanaians have in recent times come up with means of improving the conditions of the hydro electric generating facilities in order to ensure reliable power supply from those sources.

The first of this rather radical school of thought stipulates recycling of waters of volta River by connecting tunnels from the lower basins of the river to the Akosombo dam so that water which has already been used to generate power at the Akosombo and Kpong Power generating stations can be pumped back into the dam to repeat the process.

Others extend it by saying that the tunnels should be laid at the estuary of the river at Ada so that sea water can also be pumped into the dam.

Critics of this thought wonder whether the cost of energy required to pump water into the dam is not the same or even bigger than what is required to provide power from other sources such as thermal or solar.

There are also those who have raised environmental concerns as regards the effect of saline water on the flora and fauna of the River which provides huge economic opportunities and is a source of livelihood to millions of communities bordering the river and indeed, Ghana at large and the effect it will have on the Kpong Head works which is the main source of water supply to Accra several other cities,towns and villages in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions of the country.

The second school of thought proposes the creation of artificial tributaries for the Volta River by connecting the other rivers,lakes and other water sources to the Volta River.

The problems with this suggestion is the huge financial requirement for the construction of canals spanning distances of thousands of kilometers,the effect of diverting waters of such water bodies on adjoining communities and the ecological implications of changing the course of the water bodies, among several others.

Two important issues run through the criticisms of all the suggestions that have been offered namely:financial and environmental cost.

The truth is that we had the opportunity to prevent all these difficulties and the attendant cost from arising in the first place but we failed to act.

It is true that climate change has contributed to the present conditions of our hydro-electric dams but our own actions and inactions are largely to blame for the present state of affairs.

First and foremost, the rate at which we have through different forms of activities degraded and continue to degrade the physical environment through voracious exploitation of natural resources as if Ghana will cease to exist after this generation, is a major reason for the predicaments in which we find ourselves now.

A quick trip around the country tells a story of catchments,valleys and channels of big rivers,fast flowing streams, creeks and other water bodies turned into flat dry lands over the past two decades because of unrestrained exploitation of resources in those areas.

Going by what F.K Buah,De-Graft Johnson,Adu Boahen and other historians wrote about our interestingly, unlettered forebears in respect of the manner in which they jealously guarded natural resources with belief systems and customs,the contemporary Ghanaian who knows everything about the implications of environmental degradation to the very existence of the human race is extremely busy,perhaps more than a swarm of starving locust which has chanced upon a fresh farm,taking everything that nature provides for present use.

While all these things are going on, there is no corresponding interest in tree planting especially at the catchments of these water bodies and other measures that will help in salvaging water bodies and other natural resources and to and possibly restore them to their original conditions.

The matter is very simple.As an Akan adage puts it, if egg is your favorite delicacy you should not be quick at selling your hens.The fact of the matter is that hydro electric power is the cheapest source of energy available to the nation.The extent to which we are able to generate power from this source depends much on the environmental conditions that makes it possible

for us to have enough potential energy obtainable from water to turn the turbines at the various hydro- electric power stations regularly.What this means is that we have to exercise restrain in the manner we take resources from the environment in order to provide the needed conditions for the water bodies to increase their resources.

The point therefore is, although gold,diamond,timber and all the other resources we take from the environment are means of acquiring wealth,if the wealth so obtained are a threat to the energy source of the entire economy and, even the very existence of we the people then there is no good cause in exploiting them,especially in the reckless manner in which we go about it presently.

Finally, as we ponder over how to improve upon the water levels of our dams,we should not forget about protecting water bodies in the country through exercises such as tree planting etc along the banks and catchments of the water bodies in order to restore the conditions that enabled them to provide enough water to the dams.

As things stand now, it will not be surprising if in the not too distant future,there are no waters left at all, in the channels of the rivers, for anybody to talk about recycling or creating artificial tributaries of them as some Ghanaians are contemplating now.

JOSEPH TETTEH

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH,PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT(F.Y.P.D)

0244571090.e-mail:[email protected]