The Kwadaso Municipal Assembly (KwMA), in partnership with the local authority of the city of NeuIsenburg, Germany, has re-launched the installation of solar system (photovoltaic) at 24 public schools and three Health Centres, within the municipality.
The three-year (2023-2026) project, dubbed: “Municipal Climate Mitigation Adaptation”, which includes the planting of 40,000 trees of varying species and funded by FKK Corporation is estimated to cost €500,000.
Some of the beneficiary institutions are Apatrapa Health Centre and Nyankyerenease JHS. The re-launch, which took place at the Assembly Hall of Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School (YAGSHS) on Tuesday, was presided over by Nana Antwi Agyei Brempong II, a Chief from one of the Atwima towns.
Addressing the forum, Eric Assibey, Chief Executive of KwMA, expressed his gratitude to the local authority of the city of NeuIsenburg for their generous facilitation for such a transformative project.
He noted that the solar project (photovoltaic system) was aimed at providing renewable and uninterrupted energy supply to some basic and second-cycle public schools as well as Healthcare Centres within the municipality.
The Chief Executive indicated that the project signified the hope for a better teaching and learning environment, as well as strengthening of the primary Healthcare delivery in the municipality.
According to him, the project would provide a reliable electricity supply to the schools, which will promote teaching and learning, including functional computer labs as well as extend hours of study, when the national grid goes off.
This, he argued, would enhance education and expand opportunity for students, ensure the integrity of vaccines and medicines; functioning diagnostic equipment, reliable lighting for emergencies and others.
The Chief Executive noted that this would reduce dependency on the national grid at the lowest cost of operation, and most importantly contribute to global efforts to mitigating climate change, stressing that the project would also offer job opportunities and skills development for the youth.
He indicated that trainees attached to the project are offered technical skills of installation and maintenance, disclosing that the project demands “sustained ownership”, hence the need to train a maintenance team to conduct regular inspections as well as provide preventive maintenance and rapid response to faults.
The MCE noted that in-house technicians of the beneficiary institution have been trained to conduct routine operations and also handle minor faults effectively.
Mr. Karim Abdullah Adam, Deputy Director, Regional Coordinatoring Council, who represented the Ashanti Regional Minister, indicated that the project dovetail into the visions of President John Dramani Mahama.
He noted that the central government alone cannot provide all these social amenities to the people and that the project would go a long way to augment the efforts of government in providing socio-economic facilities.
Mr Adam indicated that the project would provide financial support for implementation and installation of renewable energy for Photovoltaic system for some public schools and healthcare Centres, as well as expanding to other places within the municipality.
Touching on the adverse effects of Climate Change, Mr. Adam indicated that the continuous use of fossil fuels are the reason why Ghana could no longer rely on hydro-carbons as her main source of energy and expressed gratitude to the partners for their efforts.
Mr. Adam, therefore, urged other Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to emulate KwMA, so that together they could build a better Ghana for prosperity.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi
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