A non governmental organization championing renewable energy in Ghana and fighting against the establishment of a coal fired plant in Ghana, 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon, has embarked on an outdoor campaign to sensitize Ghanaians on the effects of coal and the need for a renewable takeover of our energy sector.
The group on the 23rd September stationed at the bus stop of Accra Mall where they engaged passers-by in a conversation ranging from their knowledge on renewable energy to the effects of the establishment of the coal fired plant in Ghana.
“The purpose of this exercise is to give opportunity to interact and educate the general public on the effects of the coal powered plant in Ghana”, Portia Adu Mensah of 350 GROC said.
“We also want to find out if they have any idea on renewable energy and its benefits, global warming and the legislations of the energy sector”, she added.
The exercise took four hours and over 40 people were engaged including drivers. Stickers on renewables energy were given to drivers and passers-by took photographs with placards on coal and renewable energy.
“I know of Government’s intention to establish the coal powered plant and I believe it is harmful to human health”, one man said.
I will always support any group which will stand up against it”, he added.
Four of the taxi drivers interviewed knew nothing about renewable energy or the establishment of the coal plant in Ghana.
How it all started
350 GROC has for the past year campaigned massively against the construction of the coal powered plant which the NDC government under President John Mahama decided to construct to solve the energy crises in Ghana. Due to the campaign, the government publicly stated that no such plans were in place. Nine months down the lane, the NPP government under President Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo has revived the idea and is keen on constructing the 2x350MW supercritical coal-fired plant at Ekumfi within the coastal areas of the Ekumfi District in the Central region of Ghana. The project is in collaboration with the Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd. of China and it could further be expanded either by a 4x350MW or 2x600MW supercritical coal-fired generating units. The project is conceived to have a future expansion to an integrated 2000MW supercritical coal-fired power plant with affiliated coal handling terminal, infrastructure, residential and outdoor area.
