Ghana: Press spotlights President’s call for energy technology and sustainability for Africa, others

The call by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on African leaders to harness innovation, foster collaboration, and drive policy initiatives that place Africa at the helm of energy technology and sustainability is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Wednesday.
The Ghanaian Times reports that President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on African leaders to harness innovation, foster collaboration, and drive policy initiatives that place Africa at the helm of energy technology and sustainability.
In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, at the opening of the maiden Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) held in Accra yesterday, the President said that would ensure socio-economic development across the nation.
The two- day conference, organised by AETC in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, was on the theme “Africa at the Forefront of Energy Technology and Policy Integration in a Just Energy Transition”.
The conference, which aimed at fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing and innovation in the field of energy technology within the African continent, brought together industry players, policy makers, researchers and innovators across Africa.
President Akufo-Addo said Ghana stands firmly in its commitment to the cause, and in pursuit of that, the launch of the Energy Transition Framework at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in 2022, and the $550 billion Energy Transition Investment Plan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, last September, was a testament to the country’s dedication to fostering green industries, championing cutting-edge low-carbon technologies, and propelling the nation towards a sustainable industrial revolution.
“Ghana’s Energy Transition framework outlines our blueprint that navigates through sectors such as oil and gas, transportation, agriculture, and power, paving the way for a transition that is ambitious yet achievable.
It is important to state that we understand the weight of this endeavour – a colossal investment, representing a significant percentage of our annual GDP. Yet, the cost of inaction is far greater. Our commitment today mitigates the potential costs of tomorrow of combating the effects of pollution and climate change,” he added.
The newspaper says that African Youth have been advised to build their capacities in trade, entrepreneurship and other sectors of the economy to help enhance the socio-economic development of the continent.
According to speakers at a youth forum held on the side-lines of the ongoing All African games, gaining such skills would also help them unlock opportunities when they migrate through regular means.
The speakers also urged the youth to leverage trade opportunities, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the free movement protocol of the African Union (AU) to promote their businesses.
The AfCFTA Liaison for International Trade Centre, Regina Hammond; the AU Free Movement of Persons Lead at the AU Commission, Dr Nancy Adossi; the Regional Specialist, AfCFTA, Dr Ify Ogo, and an entrepreneur, Ferdinand Adimefe, were the speakers at the event.
Organised by the AU and facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM Ghana), the forum held on Sunday discussed how enhanced mobility contributed to individual empowerment, socio-economic growth, and overall continental development.
Ms Hammond said AFCFTA had facilitated trade on the African continent, but issues, including tariffs and non-tariffs measures, had impacted mobility of persons both positively and negatively.
Dr Adossi said with the African youth bulge estimated to be one billion by 2026, the Agenda 2026 of the AU, a 50-year strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent, was key to advance youth mobility and exchange of skills and ideas on the continent.
Dr Ogounder underscored the importance of mobility schemes, such as visa mobility schemes, which had allowed for the movement of individuals with different skills set on the continent of Africa.
For Mr Adimefe, the lack of educational institutions in Africa to provide the youth with the innovative skills needed to thrive as an entrepreneur and mind-set of Africans in terms of trading on the continent was worrying.
The Graphic reports that the Electoral Commission (EC) has raised concerns over reports suggesting that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Greater Accra region plans to employ drones during the forthcoming general election.
The EC underscored that such actions would violate voters’ electoral privacy and breach established security protocols, and as such, they will not be permitted.
This response from the EC follows remarks made by the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore who clarified that the intended deployment of drones is part of the party’s strategy to secure two million votes in the upcoming elections.
Mr. Moore asserted that the primary objective is to enhance the NDC’s monitoring capabilities to deter potential electoral malpractices, noting that preparations are underway to train constituency executives on the utilization of drones for monitoring ground activities.
However, in an interview with JoyNews, the Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe stated that the Commission has not received formal notification from the NDC regarding their intentions to deploy drones.
The newspaper says that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer, John Mahama, has given an assurance that the forthcoming NDC administration will prioritise the well-being of the people by appointing officials from all corners of the country to uphold the principles of inclusive governance enshrined in the Constitution.
Mr Mahama made the commitment in response to the concerns raised by some traditional leaders in the capital at a meeting held at the Regional House of Chiefs at Dodowa last Monday as part of a three-day working tour of the Greater Accra Region.
In an address to the chiefs, Mr Mahama unveiled plans to construct a new conference hall for the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, while repurposing the current structure into a museum to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the region.
“Despite its age, the building has architectural elegance and we intend to preserve it by transforming it into a museum alongside the new conference centre for your meetings,” he said.
The interaction with the chiefs marked the commencement of the former President’s tour in the region as part of his nation-building excursions, which have already spanned nine out of the 16 regions across the country.
Following his visit to Dodowa, the former President visited the Abossey Okai spare parts market in Accra to interact with the traders and address their concerns.
Mr Mahama expressed his gratitude to them for their vital role in the nation’s economy.
He acknowledged the challenges they faced in their business operations and assured them of his commitment to address those issues.
GIK/APA