Kofi Anokye
An advocate for cheap alternative source of energy has made an astounding assertion that the positioning of the AMERI Plant in the Western Region is preventing rains in the country.
According to Kofi Anokye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Koans Building Solutions, if the plant, which was procured under controversial circumstances, was not re-positioned immediately it would negatively affect the rainfall pattern of the entire country and put Ghana in danger.
The 10 General Electric TM 2500 aeroderivative gas turbines, which cost Ghana over $510 million, has been installed at the Aboadze Power enclave, near Takodai.
The CEO claims that the plants are directly blocking the path of the major winds that blow directly from the Atlantic Ocean onto the country to form the rains.
The plants are expected to ensure the generation of 250mw of power to augment the country’s energy capacity, but the plant appears to have been shutdown due to the lack of gas currently.
Mr. Anokye told DAILY GUIDE exclusively on Tuesday that there would be no intensive rains which would lead to possible draught in the coming years if the plant continues to be positioned there.
“Have you not noticed that Ghana is supposed to be in a rainy season but we are not experiencing the usual rainfall pattern? We are almost ending the month of July and there are no rains. I am throwing a challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Meteorological Services Department to investigate my claims,” he said.
He said that the rains that came in a couple of days ago were due to the fact that the AMERI Plants had been shut down due to the unavailability of gas to power turbines, saying “the shutting down of the machines opened the way for the rains to come.”
He predicted that should the gas plants be restarted it was going to be very difficult for rains to fall, saying “if July ends and we don’t experience the usual rainfall, Ghana will be doomed.”
The CEO said he does not believe that a serious environmental impact assessment was done before the plants were brought into the country.
Mr. Anokye’s claims are expected to provoke heated debate in the country.
By William Yaw Owusu