The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Power Africa West Africa Energy Program (WAEP) with a lessons-learned event in Accra, Ghana.
This significant milestone event brought together key stakeholders from the energy sector to review and reflect on the program’s accomplishments over the past five years. This marks the program’s commitment to expanding supply and access to clean, affordable, and reliable grid-connected electricity across 23 countries in West and Central Africa since its inception in 2019.
“I would like to congratulate the Northern Electricity Development Company (NEDCo) and WAEP on their successful collaboration to improve revenue generation for the energy sector. This successful pilot project has enabled NEDCo to reduce collection losses by 57 percent in the Yendi district relative to their 2021 baseline.”
Grace Lang, USAID/Ghana Deputy Mission Director
One of the standout achievements highlighted during the event was the partnership between WAEP and the Ministry of Energy in Ghana. Together, they developed a data-driven inventory management system (IMS) that revolutionizes how the ministry and decision-makers access accurate, real-time data on the availability and distribution of energy equipment.
The implementation of the data-driven inventory management system (IMS) in Ghana, facilitated by the Power Africa West Africa Energy Program (WAEP), has brought about significant improvements in the management and accessibility of data related to the country’s energy infrastructure. This initiative has led to more than 400,000 new electricity connections in Ghana, significantly enhancing the country’s energy infrastructure.
The IMS has transformed the way the Ministry of Energy manages components and materials for electrification projects. It provides decision-makers with high-quality, real-time data, enabling them to monitor material levels at every warehouse and track project and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts effectively. This digitization has streamlined the inventory management process, making it more efficient and accurate.
Another notable achievement is the support provided to the Bui Power Authority (BPA) for the operationalization of the first 50-megawatt (MW) phase of its 250 MW solar-hydro hybrid project. This pioneering project, West Africa’s first hydro-solar hybrid, has doubled Ghana’s grid-connected solar energy capacity and is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 47,000 tons annually.
The program also made strides in professional development within the energy sector. By supporting the Ghana Energy Commission to offer short-term certificate scholarship programs, WAEP helped train and certify wiring professionals, especially in rural and low-income regions.
This initiative resulted in the graduation of forty-four wiring technicians, including ten women, marking an 80% increase in the number of certified female wiring technicians in Ghana. This increase has not only improved electrical safety but also reduced the cost of wiring, thereby discouraging the use of illegal electricity connections.
Grace Lang, USAID/Ghana Deputy Mission Director added, “The impact of these interventions is a testament to what we can achieve through collective effort and strategic partnerships.”
The lessons learned event underscored the importance of collective effort and strategic partnerships in addressing the region’s energy challenges. Industry experts and program partners discussed regional and global energy trends, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to expand access to affordable and reliable power across West Africa.
The United States remains Ghana’s largest bilateral development partner, with USAID’s bilateral development assistance in 2023 totaling over $140 million. This support is dedicated to various sectors, including economic growth, agriculture, health, education, and governance, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the US-Ghana partnership.
This celebration of the Power Africa West Africa Energy Program’s achievements serves as a reminder of the significant progress made towards achieving universal energy access and the potential for further advancements in the coming years.
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