As part of efforts to encourage the use of renewable energy in Ghana, the Energy Commission has announced plans to distribute 200,000 rooftop solar panels to homes.

The move will reduce the power consumption on the national grid by 200 megawatts, representing about 15 percent of the country’s total consumption capacity.

But before one can benefit from this, the beneficiary must first show evidence he or she has enough money to purchase other components that will make solar generation possible.

Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, Dr Kwame Ampofo announced this at the launch of Ghana Energy Statistics Handbook and public ballot for the solar panels.

"The initial part of the program is to do 200,000 homes. That is a huge number," he said.

"...Currently the deficit we are experiencing is only 100 to 200 megawatts. So the investment in this solar program, if achieved will make us avoid the gap or the deficit we are having now through solar system.

"It was a wise policy decision to develop our energy system to depend on thermal," he explained.

He said the cost of not having power at all as compared is worse than the cost to be incurred in putting up the solar panels.

"Try and cost not having power at all. Your industries will not work, your health department will not work. People will die, factories will lay off people... there is going to be chaos. That chaos put into cost. It costs more, he said," adding, at whatever cost, the country must strive to get its solar panels as part of the energy generation mix.