The Netherlands Development Corporation, SNV, an international development oriented NGO has identified gaps in Ghana’s draft renewable energy policy which if not reviewed will render it unachievable.
The organization believes the private sector has a major role to play in the provision of electricity to deprived communities through the construction of mini grids.
However the current state of the draft policy drives away private investment. A situation, which leaves almost six million people without access to electricity in Ghana.
A Senior Advisor on energy under its Voice for Change project, Dramani Bukari, revealed this at a training for journalists at Elmina in the Central Region.
More than 200 islands and 2000 communities along the Volta Lake lack electricity and cannot be connected to the national grid due to the huge cost involved.
This has affected the livelihood of residents in these communities as most of them who are fishers lack electricity to preserve their wares and improve their standard of living.
Their peculiar situation demands the construction of mini grids. However many private individuals who are to lead in the provision of these mini grids are reluctant because the current state of the draft renewable energy policy makes the venture unprofitable.
According to Mr Bukari, the policy needs to be reviewed as the livelihood of more than 5 million people in the country depends on it.
The voice for change project which is being funded by the Netherlands government aims to empower Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to influence agenda and hold government and private sector accountable for their promises and actions.
It tackles four issues namely; renewable energy, food and nutrition security, resilience and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
