US Ambassador visits Energy Minister

The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Gene A. Cretz on Monday called on the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah at his office in Accra.

Welcoming the Ambassador, Hon. Buah expressed the government’s appreciation for the US Government’s support to Ghana over the years.

He said the country was ready for increased collaboration with the US in the area of energy, stating that Ghana was putting everything in order in preparation for the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation which is to be invested in the energy sector.

He stressed the need for full co-operation among all stakeholders to ensure that the compact agreement was effectively developed and executed for successful projects.

Hon. Buah said with the increase in electricity demand, the country had to add about 200MW of power every year for the next 20 years and called for US support.

According to him, there were plans in the short-term to restore normal supply of electricity within the next few weeks, adding that the Takoradi 3 (T3) Thermal Plant, One Unit of Bui Hydro Dam and Sunon-Asogli Power Plant, when the West African gas pipeline is restored will ensure continuous flow of electricity for Ghana and her West African neighbours.

“The country is also looking at alternative sources of energy, for instance, renewable energy, for which a Bill has been passed as well as waste to energy projects and we need support in these areas,” Hon. Buah said.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing additional resources for energy projects to ensure sustained power supply to the various business ventures in the country.

Ambassador Cretz, on his part, said because of the democratic credentials of Ghana, many US companies wanted to invest in Ghana.

He said the second compact of the MCC would strengthen the energy sector in order to make Ghana self-sufficient in energy generation and a net exporter of the commodity to her neighbours in the West African sub-region and beyond.

Ambassador Cretz congratulated the Minister on his appointment and urged him to effectively engage with all stakeholders in the energy sector to ensure accelerated development.

He noted that the relationship between the two countries was excellent and expressed the hope that it would be deepened in future.