PODCAST!>>Ep.39: Impact of Ghana's Power Crisis(1): Why Renewable Energy?

EPISODE #39
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr
Technical  Producer: D.J. Stagger

"Dear friends,

Kindly note due to a technical challenge, we were compelled to pre-record the show, which will be re-played on the Radio XYZ93.1 FM on 28 April, 2015 at 13h00 GMT. 

In the meantime, allow us to explain that, we used the thirty-ninth edition of the Africa in Focus Show to commence an important discussion in our "Energy Security & Renewable Energy" month on defining renewable energy and explore different aspects of the topic.

H.E.Charles Josob

We first spoke to the High Commissioner of Namibia H.E.Charles Josob, which country is celebrating 25 years of independence from South Africa, but in 2006, had the foresight to establish a Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Institute, which is located in one of the universities.
 To the extent that Namibia is even exporting power to South Africa's ESKOM (through the SADC Power Pool) suggests it is a country on the move as far as energy security is concerned. This point is buttressed by the High Commissioner's deep insights into Namibia's renewable energy technology potential, with a focus on solar energy.

Also on the line was Executive Secretary of the Ghana Association of Savings & Loans(GHASALC) Eunice Marfo who, in a brief interview, explained how GHASALC members had yet to consider renewables as they were fearful of the risk involved in considering it. She admitted that PPPs would be something, when fully-formulated, members may consider. Her message to the PURC was to be mindful of investors as Ghana continues to feel the impact of the power crisis.

But the main beef of the discussion was with Nana Yaa Jantuah of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission(PURC); and Lovans Owusu-Takyi and Bridget Menyeh -- both of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.

Nana Yaa Jantuah

Lovans(L); Bridget (R)

PURC was there to offer insights into their advocacy on solar energy; and ways to finance it; while SNV spoke to us about why renewable energies are an important response to Ghana's power crisis; and why it is important to take seriously such technologies as sources of (new) employment.


Kindly find a link to download the podcast below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lzibu0kerczcrxl/AFRICAN%20IN%20FOCUS%20PRE-RECORDED%2014-04-2015.mp3?dl=0

Kind regards,
Emmanuel