Energy Commission, GES hold SHS renewable energy challenge competition to inculcate interest in renewable energy technologies
The Energy Commission in collaboration with the Ghana Education (GES) has organized its 3rd edition of the Energy Commission’s Senior High Schools Renewable Energy challenge with the call on students in their respective schools in the 16 regions in the country to create and develop projects and facilities in the clean cooking and food processing using renewable energy technologies.
The competition under the theme “Clean Cooking and Food Processing Using Renewable Energy Technologies”, seeks to engage students in the bid to roll out new innovative products, accessories among others to enhance activities in the area of clean cooking particularly improved stoves and others modules of food processing and preservation through renewable energy.
It is also geared towards leveraging the research skills of Senior High School students and promote also technological innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency and to promote into students the commitment in solving renewable energy efficiency and issues relating to climate change.
The six (6) finalists of the schools are Ghana Secondary Technical School, Kpedze Senior High School, Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School, Noranza Technical Institute, Business Senior High School and Bolgatanga Girls Senior High school.
Sponsors of the competition were Bui Power Authority, Volta River Authority (VRA), Electricity of Ghana (ECG), Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Clean Cooking Alliance, European Union (EU), Ashesi University, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and French Development Agency (AFD).
In a speech read on his behalf, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said government have rolled out initiatives and programmes as part of the effort to create more awareness on the modern methods of cooking with less coal and limited smoke, which have impacted positively food processing and preservation by the usage of renewable energy.
He said stakeholders in the energy and other players in the education sector have introduced innovative concepts leading to the creation of various projects and facilities in the cooking space and other related energy facilities in the public and the private sector for the laudable initiatives.
“Government in these regard have instituted scores of STEM centers across the country as part of the drive to empower the youth particularly students to take up their destiny and become great entrepreneurs to shape the socioeconomic development of the country”, he said.
For his part the Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Ing. Oscar Amonoo Neizer commended the students for putting up a brilliant performance and again applauded all stakeholders for their unflinching supports towards the 3rd edition of the competition and urged the respective students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired to enhance and support renewable energy technologies.
He however called on other corporate bodies to support the next competition and create the needed education and awareness to meet the emergency trends in clean cooking across the country.
Kpedze SHS from the Volta Region emerged as winners of the competition and received cash prize, a plaque, computer accessories, solar and street lights, stationery among others.
Source:Ben LARYEA/johnawuniktv@gmail.com
