The United States has committed US$497m to boost power sector in Ghana to aid its transformation.
Addressing students and faculty members of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi, Mr. Robert Porter Jackson, the US Ambassador, revealed that the power initiative is under the “President Obama’s Power Africa Initiative”, which is intended to boost electrical power supply across the Africa continent.
Ambassador Jackson further elaborated on his Country’s policy towards Ghana in the areas of good governance, health,education,security and peace.
“We are determined to give strong backing to trade and investment promotion that will create wealth and jobs for the people,” stated Jackson.
He further expressed his satisfaction concerning the performance and progress of the regional trade in agricultural products which originated from the USAID’s West Africa Trade Hub and the Feed the Future programme.
Besides boosting Africa’s power supply, President Obama’s Power Africa Initiative programme is also expected to create room for conducive employment environment where businesses will thrive. The initiative will as well provide support to roll back malaria, control the spread of HIV/AIDS infection and improve nutrition.
Africa has been experiencing inadequate and erratic energy flow barring its economic growth. However, the power initiative is expected to radically improve Africa’s energy situation.
Africa’s annual average power consumption per capita is over 500kWh compare to USA which has a total average power consumption of 13,500kWh annually. Industries, Businesses and government have recorded the highest power consumers.
Africa is seen as unique position of building infrastructures that are clean and friendly without having to replace what had been there in the past, given that it does not have a large infra-structure and access to abundant solar.
Being one of the best solar irradiation continent with the suns power exceeding it needs by many magnitudes, accommodating over 1billion people, more than half of the population lives “off the grid” and has no access to “plug in” electrical power.