Business News of Friday, 17 November 2017
Source: atinkaonline.com
2017-11-17
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor
Ghana’s former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has underscored the need for the country to join the race in making solar and nuclear energy a priority as a mixture of two will make the country energy secure in the whole of West Africa.
He made the statement when Strategic Security Systems International Limited (3SiL) outdoored a new logo of the company to mark the company’s ten years of existence in Ghana.
President Kufuor stated that there is a huge shortage of energy supply around our continent.
“In West Africa alone I understand the shortage is 40 gigawatts and that’s a lot. So if we think of generating electricity as an export commodity, of course we satisfy the local market but with some to spur to export to our neighborhood. Already, Ghana is exporting about 100 megawatts to Burkina Faso. I am sure if we focus on Nigeria with all its resources Ghana might export easily 1000 megawatts to that country and the hard currency earnings we get from that might exceed what we are getting from traditional export like cocoa.”
According to him, policy should look at the profitability of it and encourage private investors to move into the venture.
The former president applauded the founder of 3SiL, Mr. Francis A. Boateng, describing him as an achiever. Quoting Margaret Thatcher, he said, “in this world, anytime there are only a few creators, when you find them what you have to do is to protect them and encourage them because by what they create, they create jobs for the multitude; they create wealth by which all of us live. So people like you, 3SiL, Ghana needs more of you to move Ghana’s economy forward for all of us”.
“This man came and with his vision and initiative, see what he has done. Currently, he is the first and perhaps the only solar energy panel manufacturer in the whole of West Africa. And it is not only solar panel manufacturing but also, into securing strategic ventures for development. He deserves to be supported,” President Kufuor stated.
The former president said, he had seen the reality of the quality supply of products from Strategic Security Systems and if Ghana could get ten of these companies in the country, then Ghana will be in the main stream of middle income country.
“What 3SiL does fulfills my personal wishes as I believe totally in the central role of the private sector and this I believe is an exceptional example of successful private sector achievements. I always subscribe to the public private partnerships. Public to me provides the framework and infrastructure for the private sector to move”
