Volta Region SMEs want solar panels

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the Volta Region, on Tuesday, appealed to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to fast-track the piloting of solar panels as source of energy to power their equipment.

They said the use of generators during power outages had become economically unwise and they needed the intervention of solar panels to remain in business.

The entrepreneurs made the appeal at a meeting with officials of the PURC and the Electricity Company of Ghana in Ho.

The meeting, at the instance of PURC, was to explain issues concerning the current power outages to the business community and the way forward.

The President, in his recent State of the Nation Address announced plans by the government to provide SMEs with solar panels as one of the measures to ensure stable power supply for businesses.

Mr Bright Delali Kugbadzor, the Volta Regional President of Ghana Association of Barbers and Salon Owners, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that members of the Association could not break even with the use of generators during power outages and needed solar panels urgently.

He said most barbers used at least two gallons of fuel to power their generators at GH¢ 15.00 a day, which was about two-thirds of their income and could, therefore, hardly sustain their businesses.

Mr Kugbadzor said many barbers were reluctant to use generators due to the operational cost and unwillingness of customers to pay extra.

Mrs Monica Amegashie-Viglo, the Chairperson of Tailors and Dressmakers Association, said solar panels were far better than generators and so they needed solar panels now to revive their enterprises.

She said members of the Association had been exploring that opportunity individually and appealed to the PURC to help.

Ms Nana Yaa Jantuah, the Director of Public Relations and External Affairs (PURC), said the Commission would soon pilot the use of solar panels for SMEs and other strategic institutions.

She urged operators in the hospitality industry to explore opportunities in the use of solar panels to save some energy for domestic use.

Mr Samuel Sarpong, the Executive Secretary of PURC, underscored the importance of energy conservation to save the nation any future energy crisis.

Mr Joseph Mensah Forson, the Volta Regional Manager of ECG, took the participants through the operations of the Company.