The Energy Commission (EC) yesterday launched the Energy Academy to empower energy Professionals across Africa with cutting-edge expertise in energy policy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and regulation.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, John Abbam Aboah Sanie, who launched the academy on the sideline of Energy Forum Series, in Accra said it was established on the basis of lessons learned and expertise cultivated during the transformation of the sector in the last three decades.
The theme of the forum was ‘Three Decades of Energy Sector Reforms in Ghana: Reflecting on Performance and Shaping a Sustainable Future.’
Mr Sanie stated that the Academy sought to build on this legacy, serving as a bridge between the insights gained from the past and the aspirations for the future.
The Deputy Minister added that the institution embodied the “knowledge, experience, and innovation” honed over the years, ensuring that the country continues to lead in shaping a sustainable and resilient energy sector.
“Through the Forum’s discussions and the Academy’s training, we are creating a virtuous cycle of learning and innovation that will guide energy sector reforms in Ghana and beyond,” he explaind.
The Energy Academy, Mr Sanie noted, was designed to be a premier centre for learning, collaboration and innovation, offering transformative training and certification programmmes to meet the demands of the energy sector.
“The Academy intends to build on this important initial collaboration with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to partner institutions like the Brew Hammond Energy Centre, international organisations, and leading industry players, to deliver cutting-edge instruction and insights aimed at positioning Ghana at the forefront of global energy developments,” he added.
“Housed within the impressive Nearly Zero Energy Building, the Academy embodies the principles of sustainability that we champion,” he said.
Moreover, touching on the theme, he indicated that, over the past three decades, the country’s energy sector has undergone transformative reforms that have laid the foundation for the progress seen today.
From regulatory frameworks that opened the door to private sector participation to efforts to improve energy access, reliability, and sustainability, the Deputy Minister stated that these reforms had powered industries, driven economic growth, and improved the quality of life for millions of Ghanaians.
The Executive Secretary of EC, Mr Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, said Academy would host an electronic library where participants could access digital resources and eBooks to support research and lifelong learning.
Additionally, he asserted that it would also offer a platform for energy professionals to publish their works to be accessed globally.
He added that Academy would provide cutting-edge training, foster innovation and build capacity in energy policy formulation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, electricity and natural gas regulation, local content, and electrical wiring certifications which would help to realising the national energy goals.
The Former Chief Executive Officer of Bui Power, Mr Jabesh Amissah- Arthur, underscored the importance of the academy in the energy sector, stating that it would address the gaps in technical planning and regulatory expertise in order to improve our overall sector efficiency and effectiveness.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA
