Deputy Energy Minister inaugurates Local Content Committee on Electricity Supply Industry
An eleven (11) Member Committee on Electricity Supply Industry Local Content and Local Participation has been inaugurated to oversee the development and measurable growth of Local Content and Local Participation in Ghana’s electricity supply industry.
Members of the Committee include; Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahinkoroh, Executive Secretary, Energy Commission as the Chairman, Dr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, Dr S.B Amponsah, Mr Solomon Adjetey, Miss Jennifer Brown, Dr Ishmael Ackah, Mr Benjamin Effah, Mr F.K.Nagatey, Mr David Ruthven Adzogble, Ing Kingsford Laryea and Michael Opoku Akurang.
Inaugurating the Committee, Hon Joseph Cudjoe, Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Finance and Infrastructure said Government recognizes the importance of local content and has therefore given it prominence in the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies.
According to him, the aim of local content regulations are to create linkages to build local industries to ensure employment of Ghanaians and promote value addition.
“Local content is government’s strategy to rally the citizens to take advantage of opportunities in the Electricity Supply Industry,” he indicated.
According to the Minister, Ghana’s Electricity Supply Industry had seen massive growth since the power sector reforms, adding that the installed generation capacity available for grid power supply at the transmission level has doubled from 2, 165 megawatts in 2010 to about 4,360 megawatts by mid-2018.
Hon Joseph Cudjoe indicated that the Committee is also tasked to monitor and coordinate the Local Content and Local Participation performance of all persons engaged in activities in the electricity supply industry in accordance with L.I.2354.
Hon Cudjoe expressed hope the Committee would perform their functions with integrity, professionalism and efficiency to ensure that the purpose for which the regulations were developed would be achieved.
Deputy Energy Minister in charge of Power, Hon. William Awuraku-Aidoo expressed confidence in the Committee, and congratulated members, especially the Chairman for his immense role in the realization of (L.I.2354).
Dr. Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, Chairman of the Committee gave the assurance that the Committee would work tirelessly to deliver on its mandate to ensure that the interest of the country and its citizens are protected.
The Local Content and Local Participation and Electricity Supply Industry Regulations(L.I.2354) was passed by Parliament into law in 2017.
The objective of the regulations is to achieve about fifty-one percent (51%) equity participation in wholesale supply and distribution in the Electricity Supply Industry(ESI) in Ghana and 60% local content.
It is also to develop capacity in the manufacturing industry for electrical cable, conductors, and accessories, among others.
This would help business entities in the Electricity Supply Industry to secure their legal, insurance, financial, engineering, technical consultancy, maintenance and ancillary services from indigenous Ghanaian institutions.
Prepared by the Communications Unit