Deputy Minister Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer has noted that a discussion on energy transition cannot be complete without sector institutions that robust and focused, with the right leadership to implement policy and give it real, tangible meaning.

He made this observation as the Guest of Honour at the media launch and opening of nominations for the 2023 Ghana Energy Awards in Accra on Tuesday. The event was held under the theme ‘Ghana's Energy Transition Framework: Sector Institutions as Building Blocks for the 2030-2040 Targets.’

Hon. Mercer, who is also the MP for Sekondi, recalled that at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom in 2021, Ghana made bold commitments to the shift to less carbon generating sources of energy, breaking away from fossil fuels in the long term. He noted further that these commitments were reiterated by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, last year, where he outdoored Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework.

“Government’s vision for a just and equitable transition framework is a bold one – one that aspires to discharge our international in the matter of climate change and a move away from fossil fuel. But it is also a framework that recognizes the importance of our natural resources and our determination to ensure that these are not stranded, and that the transition happens on our terms and nothing else”, the Deputy Minister declared.

Hon. Mercer noted further that in the upstream sector of the petroleum industry, in the generation, transmission and distribution sectors of the power value chain, and in the overarching regulatory framework, the energy sector agencies and institutions are critical to energy transition.

“It is for this reason that this year’s theme resonates so well with the Honourable Minister in particular, and I commend the GEA for choosing this it. We must at all times be seen to be working in sync as strategic partners in the realization of government’s objectives in this space”, he urged.

“As a Ministry, we are committed to collaborating with our sector agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that our goals are aligned as we pursue the conversation on the future of our energy sector, and ultimately, our national industrialization agenda, Hon. Mercer concluded.

The Ghana Energy Awards aims to recognize the efforts, innovation and achievements of individuals, companies and institutions within Ghana’s energy sector. It also celebrates the tremendous work of competing players under various award categories.

This year’s awards, to be held in November 2023, is the 7th edition. A total of 28 awards are up for grabs, with 23 in the competitive category and the remaining 8 in the non-competitive category.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah