Four rural towns to benefit from solar

Four towns have been identified for the pilot installation of solar lighting system in their communities.

They are Mayikpor in the Ga West District, Deigo in Akuapim District, Kontona Offinso District, and Komfokrom in Obuasi District.

The project dubbed: “Ghana-Colombia: Litre of Light for Peace,” would promote an alternative lighting system based on recycled plastic bottles, which does not generate heat and requires no maintenance and does not incurred monthly cost.

Mr Camilo Jose Herrera Diaz, President of the Litro de Luz Colombia Foundation told journalists that the life span of the solar bottle is 10 years and needs discarded plastic bottles, water, chlorine and glue.

He said the initiative had been used to bring lighting to rural and urban poor areas that were not connected to the national grid in many countries.

“It had also employed young men and women to identify the homes in which the lighting is to be installed, targeting deprived communities,” he said.

Mr Diaz said: “This solution is already in implantation in over 12 cities in Colombia and being replicated in some African countries namely, Kenya, Mali, Cameroon and Ghana.”

He said he would lead the pilot installation in Ghana to teach the people how to install the bottle to benefit from the litre of light.

He expressed gratitude to Anglo Gold Ashanti, Tap Portugal, All Alfra Electric Company, SBC Beverages Ghana Limited and Sika Group Company for their support towards the success of the new technology.

In a related development, a Chinese firm, Hanergy Holding Group, has also expressed their readiness to support some health centres in Accra with solar systems.

Ms Lv Jiali, Deputy Director of Brand Management of the company, made this known when she paid a courtesy call on Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive in Accra.

The Chinese delegation visited Ussher Clinic, James Town Maternity Home and Korle Bu Hospital to acquaint themselves with equipment in the facilities.

Dr Vanderpuije said government is committed to provideg electricity to every part of the country.