Ezekiel E. Sottie
3 minutes read
A two-week regional training of trainers (ToT) workshop on clean mini-grids design, installation and inspection is underway at the VRA Academy at Akuse in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region.
The workshop, organised by Volta River Authority (VRA) Academy, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) for 24 participants from Ho Technical University and The Gambia is to nurture professionals equipped to deliver high-quality mini-grid projects.
Strategic investment
Addressing the participants and stakeholders at the launch of the programme, the Deputy Chief Executive of VRA in charge of Services, Samuel Fletcher, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Volta River Authority International Schools Limited (VISL), Eric Mensah Bonsu, said the deployment of solar photovoltaic mini-grids was not merely a technical endeavour but a strategic investment in the region’s socio-economic development.
He explained that “by harnessing renewable resources, we reduce dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate environmental impact and foster resilience against climate change.”
“The expertise required to design, install and inspect these systems was therefore critical to ensuring their effectiveness and sustainability,” he added.
“This training initiative exemplifies the strength of regional collaboration. ECREEE, VRA Academy, Ho Technical University and our partner institutions from Ghana and The Gambia have joined forces to elevate the standards of renewable energy practice across ECOWAS member states through harmonised certification and skills development.”
Energy sector transformation
Mini-grids have emerged as a practical and scalable solution, particularly for rural and peri-urban communities to accelerate energy sector transformation.
These systems bridge the gap where conventional grid extension is not economically viable, offering reliable power for homes, businesses and essential services.
The practical skills imparted through the training will enable participants to address real-world challenges in mini-grid deployment.
Mini-grid development
The Deputy CEO said VRA’s journey in mini-grid development had demonstrated the transformative power of skilled professionals, with some VRA-trained staff projects delivering reliable electricity to underserved areas, improving livelihoods and supporting Ghana’s renewable energy targets, stressing, “these successes are a testament to what can be achieved when expertise, innovation and commitment converge.”
The Chief Learning Officer at VRA Academy, Kingsley Gyamfi, stated that, “West Africa is a region of extraordinary dynamism and potential, yet the statistics remind us that too many of the people still live without reliable electricity.”
He said too many health clinics, schools as well as small enterprises were constrained by the absence of dependable energy supply, adding that clean mini-grid represents one of the solutions to this challenge, particularly for our rural and peri-urban communities that might never be reached by conventional grid within a reasonable timeframe.”
Purpose of training
The acting Executive Director of ECREEE, Gibson Obasi, explained that the ongoing training of trainers contributed to the operationalisation of ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification System and was aimed at strengthening the quality and reliability of clean mini-grid installations through a skilled workforce.
He stressed that this training initiative was built on the regional ToT held in October 2025 in Benin, which established a harmonised framework for Level 2 certification covering the design, installation and inspection of mini-grids.
The Chairman for the occasion, Kodjo Antwi, in his closing remarks, urged the participants to take the workshop seriously to train others for the ultimate aim of the programme to be achieved.
