Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
THE MINISTER of Energy, DR. MATTHEW Opoku Prempeh, has been given the Exceptional Commitment to Africa’s Energy Transition Honorary Award at a colourful event.
The top award was presented to Dr. Prempeh affectionately called ‘Napo’ who doubles as the Manhyia South Member of Parliament (MP), during the Ghana Energy Awards in Accra.
The event organizers, particularly, presented the top award to Napo following his hard work and vision towards energy transition in Ghana and Africa.
“In recognition of your invaluable commitment towards energy transition in Ghana and Africa, the Ghana Energy Awards has the pleasure to present to you, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Exceptional Commitment to Africa’s Energy Transition Honorary Award.”
“Because of your dedication and hard work, the sector continues to grow steadily, as an integral part of the Ghanaian economy”, part of a citation presented to Napo read.
The citation also highlighted Napo’s extraordinary works and commitment to the country’s energy transition.
“You have been unequivocal in your commitment to Ghana’s energy transition, shown by the recent outdooring of the National Energy Transition Framework; the result of a painstaking nationwide stakeholder consultative approach and a framework geared at guiding Ghana’s transition to a net-zero economy by 2070 in a just and equitable manner, as well as minimize possible stranded assets and job losses in the oil and gas sector”.
Napo was also highly commended for his down-to-earth nature and his readiness to always listen to various views, especially as he leads the energy sector towards the path of net zero emissions.
“Your consultatory approach has been backed by clear objectives towards the transition to using as the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam, which would be a source of both solar and hydro energy; the implementation of 20-megawatt solar power plants in remote communities; revision of local content legislation; the electrification of island communities and hard-to-reach areas with renewable energy technologies; and the extension of the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SEP) to include prioritized projects, such as solar streetlights and off-grid solar power projects for isolated communities.”
“Your passionate resolve to steer Ghana’s energy sector towards the path of net zero emissions and the attainment of nationally determined contributions were expressed at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27).
Complementarily, you launched the National LPG Promotion Programme to accelerate the switch from unclean fuels to LPG in a bid to achieve the goal of 50 per cent access by 2030.
Central to your resolution is the peaceful adoption of nuclear energy as an addition to Ghana’s energy mix. This is evidenced by the progressive steps taken towards the selection of a preferred site and vendor for the development of a nuclear power plant”.
BY I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr