Implementing Coal Energy would be Suicidal- 350 G-ROC tells VRA

By Emmanuel Agyemfra Boateng/Obuasitoday.com

350 Ghana Reducing Carbon (G-ROC) a local anti- climate change Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has called on the Volta River Authority (VRA) to rescind its decision of partnering international; energy companies to set up coal-fired power plants to increase power generation, the group which seeks to combat climate change called the decision suicidal to the future of Ghana.

In a Press Statement read by the National Coordinator Mr. Chibezie Ezekiel, yesterday at the CSIR STERIS auditorium in Accra, he mentioned that, the fact that Ghana is battling energy crisis doesn’t mean the Volta River Authority can go in for any alternative that would go a long way to bring repercussions beyond control.

“Whiles 350 Ghana Reducing our Carbon (G-ROC) and members of the CSOs of the Anti-Coal Campaigners in Ghana jointly agree there’s an urgency to provide sufficient energy to meet increasing demand; we believe power generation through coal is strongly contested. Implementing this would be suicidal to the future of Ghana”, he stressed.

According to the group, this came up after the Government of Ghana has expressed intentions to collaborate with the Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd of China (SEC) to develop a 2*350MW supercritical coal-fired generating units, at Ekumfi in the Central Region of Ghana.

Explaining further, Mr. Chibezie Ezekiel cautioned the VRA not to accept the coal dream or violate the Sustainable Development Goal 7, which seeks to achieve Affordable and Clean Energy by ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

“If Ghana takes this route, it will violate the country’s obligation under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which enforces countries to take step that ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”

“The recent Paris climate change agreement states ‘all Parties should strive to formulate and communicate long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies”

350 Ghana Reducing our Carbon(G-ROC) is the leading environmental grassroots organization (NGO) in Ghana affiliated to 350.org formed with the aim of mobilizing and empowering young people in partnership with key stakeholders to actively champion the need to reduce our carbon emissions and promote renewable energy systems as a key effort in combating climate change.