The Ghana Science Association says the best source of power to enhance the growth and transition of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country is solar-generated energy.
The association says given the country’s power challenges which partly emanate from the overreliance on hydro and thermal generated energy, electricity which is very crucial for SME growth has become unreliable.
President of the Ghana Science Association, Prof. Gideon Helegbe says apart from the unreliability of power, SMEs such as saloons, dressmakers, and barbers among others are grappling with a high cost of electricity hence negatively affecting their businesses.
Speaking at the 19th Biennial Workshop of the Ghana Science Association on the theme “Innovative, Affordable and Sustainable Energy Supply for the 4th Industrial Revolution” held on Sunyani on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, Prof. Helegbe therefore called on the government to consider solar power as an alternative power for SMEs in the country.
He is calling on the government to embark on huge investments in solar energy infrastructure so that SMEs can be taken off the national grid to depend on solar panels.
He believes solar is also reliable and cost-effective for SMEs who are grappling with huge energy bills.
“If you make a large investment in solar, I’m talking of the government, it will save a lot. Like these SMEs, the hairdressers, the barbers, they can shift to those ones it will help them really in the business. Sometimes, with the challenges we are having with “dumsor” or “dumsiesie”, you realize you are doing your work and the light goes off. With the solar, if you use it very well it can save them,” Prof. Helegbe argued.
The association is also calling on the government to prepare the country’s energy sector innovatively for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
