Germany to assist Ghana in her climate mitigation programmes

Accra, June 19, GNA- The German Ambassador, Mr Christoph Retzlaff says Germany is looking forward to partnering with Ghana to bring more solar power systems under a renewable energy programme.

The systems he said would be sent into remote parts of the country that have no access to the national electricity grid.

Speaking to the GNA on the sideline of a cocktail he hosted for three German Members of Parliament on a visit to the country, the Ambassador explained that as Ghana continued to be a shining example in Africa, it had been selected by Germany, as part of three countries, to sign a bilateral agreement that would help source funds for her renewable energy sector and for vocational training.

He said since renewable energy played critical role in climate mitigation, the partnership between the two countries would enable Germany to help Ghana in her climate mitigation plans.

The Ambassador said because of Ghana's huge potential with lots of sunshine everywhere, 'we could find lots of solutions here, especially in the remote areas where there are no accesses to conservative energy and we can find small decent solutions for farmers in little towns by using solar energy'.

'We have the technology, we have the knowledge and we have the experts, we can finally settle that we will walk this path', Mr Retzlaff told the GNA in an interview in Accra.

The agreement signed also with Tunisia and Cote d'Ivoire fall under a compact initiative that would bring additional 100 million euros each year to the country to be used mainly for projects in the renewable energy sector and in vocational training.

Commenting further on the visit by the German MPS, Mr Retzlaff said it was the first time in many years that a group from the German Parliament was visiting Ghana and so the cocktail was being organized to enable the MPs meet and interact with the diverse Ghanaian society from all walks of life.

Among the dignitaries that attended the cocktail included; Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Freda Opare Prempeh, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council, as well as other MPs , politicians, business people, media personnel, some artists and members of civil society.

Mr Charles M Huber, Chairman of the Parliamentary group for English and Portuguese-speaking States of West- and Central Africa, led the delegation that included Ms Walter-Rosenheimer Beate, Vice-chairman of the Parliamentary group and Professor Dr Egon Jüttner, Member of the Parliamentary group.

As part of the two day visit, the three MPS who had since left the country, met with the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, Professor Michael Aaron Ocquaye and the Majority and Minority leaders of Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and Mr Haruna Iddrisu, respectively.

The three also toured the Jamestown, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Independence Square, Kofi Annan ICT Centre (KAITC) in Accra, and the Shai Hills and Akosombo Dam.

GNA

By Lydia Asamoah, GNA