Deputy Upper West regional minister, Dr. Musheibu Mohammed Alfa has appealed to the German government to consider partnering its Ghanaian counterpart in the area of renewable energy in the Upper West Region.

Dr. Alfa made the appeal when the First Secretary of the German Embassy, Dr. Zoe Nautré, called on him at his office in Wa.

Thanking the German government for its contributions in agriculture and energy, on which the survival of the Region hinges, the deputy minister explained that over eighty percent of the region’s populace engages in agriculture.

He insisted there is an abundance of sunshine in the region which, when harvested, will help to reduce the burden on the other sources of energy the country depends on.

The Deputy Minister was of the belief that although renewable energy is a ‘‘virgin’’ area in the region it has the potential to be a viable business venture.

‘‘It is an area that is yet to be tapped and we will welcome anybody who wants to invest in that area,’’ he added.

Dr. Nautré on her part said the German government is partnering with the Ghanaian government through the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Volta River Authority (VRA) on a pilot project that will lead to the development of a 12MW photovoltaic plant in the Region.

The First Secretary, who also doubles as the Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy is in the Upper West Region to see oversee projects that have been supported by the German people through its Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, implemented by the German International Cooperation (GIZ), and in collaboration with the Centre for International Migration (CIM).

Whilst in the region, she will visit some municipal and district assemblies and interact with duty bearers on projects on decentralisation and street naming.

Dr. Nautré will also present working equipment 9500 Euros to Saeed Bila, an assistant director at the Kaleo-Nadowli District Assembly, who studied in Germany but returned home to serve his people under the expert returning programme.