ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum To Be Hosted In Ghana

22-24 October 2019 * Kempinski Hotel

By Sylvester Samba

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) will be hosting its third annual ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) on 22-24 October 2019 in Accra, Ghana. The event is expected to bring together West Africa’s top elected officials, policymakers, industry leaders and other individuals committed to moving forward the sustainable energy agenda.

ECREEE and its sister agencies, the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Authority (ERERA) made tremendous gains in policy and regulatory framework for the viable sustainable energy market.

Energy access and growth as one of, a key objective of ESEF2019.

ECREEE further explained that this year’s forum also marks a special relationship with two partners with a demonstrated commitment to sustainable communities around the world: Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), the off-grid industry association consisting of more than 130 members active in Africa to deliver innovative clean energy solutions; and GET.invest, a European program that mobilises renewable energy investments.

The Executive Director of ECREEE, Mr. Mahama Kappiah, said ECOWAS region is on the brink of a major energy industry transformation. He noted progress in the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects and off-grid electrification major initiatives such as the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP) and the West Africa Clean Energy Corridor, ECREEE is proposing key investment opportunities to facilitate a more sustainable West Africa.

Executive Director of Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), Mr. Marcus Wiemann stressed that building on the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with ECREEE at the fifth ARE Energy Access Investment Forum in Abidjan this year and the recommendations that emerged from the subsequent policy dialogues, ARE is keen to develop win-win partnerships between the local and international private sectors, as well as deepen cooperation to boost off-grid renewable energy technologies in West Africa.

Special guests at this year’s ESEF include high-level delegates, among them: H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President, The Republic of Ghana, H.E. Jean-Claude Brou, President, ECOWAS Commission, John Peter Amewu, Minister of Energy, Ghana, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Sierra Leone, Dr. Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo, Minister of Energy, Burkina Faso, Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Energy and Mines, ECOWAS, Executives from the climate and energy finance sectors, technology manufacturers and distributors, and others.

The forum will provide a platform for improving the policy and regulatory landscape for private sector investment, where attendees will be able to liaise with financiers and secure other resources to fund their business endeavors.

Over the 3-day event, utility-scale renewable energy projects, off-grid electrification, energy access, financing, and investment will be the theme. Additionally, a large exhibition will be held at ESEF2019 to allow manufacturers, developers, financial institutions, and other companies to showcase their products and services. Interested parties should contact sponsor@ESEF2019.org.

ESEF2019 aim to be a platform for establishing valuable partnerships between ECOWAS policymakers, regional, international private sector, and financial institutions.

ESEF is supported this year by The Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA); The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID); UNIDO; German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ); The World Bank Group; The European Union; The Global Environment Facility (GEF); Sustainable Energy for All; GET.invest; and ARE.