Old students of Kpedze Senior High school have honoured the students who represented the school and emerged as national champions of the Energy Commission’s Senior High Schools’ Renewable Energy Challenge, 2022.

The team’s prototype solar dehydrator designed to preserve vegetables and fruits to address post-harvest losses beat competition from 5 schools top-including Yaa Asantewaa Girls SHS, Kumasi, to win the ultimate. 

The participant presented a mechanism which employs the use of a parabolic trough collector to generate heat from the sun, which is used to dehydrate slices of fruits and vegetables on trays in a drying chamber.

They secured ¢10,000, a 5kW solar PV complete system, 25 solar wall light pieces and 30 streetlights for the school, with each of the 6 team members receiving ¢3,000, a laptop, two pieces of solar lamps and a solar fan. 

Due to the splendid performance of the contestants, the school got nominated in the best off-grid energy solution category at the 6th Ghana Energy Awards but missed out on it. 

The contestants, three male students and a female student were presented with citations by the KPESCO Past Students Association for their performance in the competition right from the regional, through the zonal to the national stage.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Headmaster, Yram Kwame Gagotor, commended the team for putting up an excellent performance knowing how handicapped the school is in offering science education. 

He detailed the triumph of the school was a result of a well-thought-through vision of making the school “an all-round centre of learning” some three years ago.

He commented the old students for their continuous support of the physical development of the school and appealed for more towards pivoting the school to attain its vision. 

He disclosed that the school would benefit from a facelift of its kitchen as a result of the performance of the contestants. 

The President of the KPESCO Past Students Association, George Ofori, believes the stride chalked would “inspire the school to work harder for greater laurels”.

“For our gallant team of 8, we salute you and celebrate you as the great Energy Champions of KPESCO and Ghana. Putting up such a wonderful performance in raising high the flag of KPESCO in Volta Region and Ghana as a whole. 

“Ayekoo to you all for making KPESCO great and strong again indeed. We are all proud of you. Congratulations gallant Energy Champions of Ghana and Africa”, he said.