The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector Project (REEEPublic), together with the Energy Foundation on December 13 and 14, 2021, organised a two-day training workshop on sustainable energy measures for 45 representatives from selected public facilities in the Volta Region of Ghana. 

The training workshop is part of a series of capacity development programmes planned for various stakeholders in the energy value chain.

Addressing the media at the event, Mr. Isaac Opoku Manu, Technical Advisor for the REEEPublicProject, emphasized the importance of capacity-building programmes in upgrading the skills and technical know-how of the various public facilities.

This would enable them to become active in the national call to reduce energy consumption and electricity costs for public sector institutions.  

He added that various in-person training sessions were conducted for some selected staff of different partners, such as ECG and NEDCo, the built environment professionals, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and now representatives from selected public facilities in the Volta Region such as Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Peki Government Hospital, Mater Ecclesiae Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, Kpando Senior High School, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service and Ghana Water Company Ltd.

The training sessions equipped participants with knowledge to adopt appropriate energy efficient management systems in their respective organizations to help the Government of Ghana to reduce its expenditure on electricity bills.

The participants, through hands-on training, were introduced to how to conduct energy audits, identifyenergy saving measures and set up energymanagement systems per ISO 50001: 2018-EnMSstandard, to help their respective organizations manage their energy use.

They also gained knowledge in energy efficiency standards and labels, legislative instruments, among other critical topics. 

Speaking at the event, the Acting Executive Director for Energy Foundation, Ing. Stephen Duodu, explained that the training on sustainable energy measures does not only help public facilities to reduce their energy consumption but also serves as an ancillary tool in the global fight against climate change. 

“The call for a green environment starts with us at the local level, and these energy efficient measures when implemented, will go a long way to restore the environment.” he stated. 

Commenting on the need to ensure implementation of energy standards in public facilities, Ign. Williams Nimako, Head of Engineering, Building and Basic Studies Department at the Ghana Standard Authority,urged all facility managers to adhere to highstandards in their day-to-day management of energy. 

He added that these standards should be consideredduring the procurement of air conditioners and other electrical appliances by looking out for the energyefficient certificates or labels as endorsed by the Energy Commission of Ghana. 

Above all, the Regional Economic Planning Officer for the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Rev. Isaac Adza Tettey, on behalf of all the participants commended the effort of GIZ Ghana and the Energy Foundation for the numerous investments made to ensure that they are well equipped to give value to their organizations. 

The REEEPublic project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with funding from the German Federal Government.

To read more about the REEEPublic Project, kindly visit; https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/83817.html