Ghana urged to fund energy prototypes by senior high students
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on MyJoyOnline
Illustrative image · ThisIsEngineering · Pexels · Licence PexelsOrganisers of Ghana’s renewable energy competition are calling for increased public funding to help technical education students design and develop prototypes. George Sarpong, the Energy Commission’s communications head, says schools spend about 35,000 cedis on each project and lack resources, according to MyJoyOnline.
Organisers and participants in Ghana’s Renewable Energy Challenge are calling on the government and other partners to fund renewable energy prototypes designed by technical senior high school students. The appeal was made at the seventh edition of the competition, held in the Ashanti Region, according to MyJoyOnline.
George Sarpong, head of public affairs at the Energy Commission of Ghana and coordinator of the competition, said schools spend about 35,000 cedis to develop a prototype. He said a lack of funding was holding back research, development and the scaling up of projects.
Ahantaman Girls’ Senior High School won the competition in the southern zone, while Dabokpa Senior High Technical School won in the northern zone. The students hope their innovations can be deployed in communities, particularly among rural farmers. Professor Francis Kermanson of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a member of the jury, praised their creativity while highlighting the funding challenges faced by technical and vocational institutions.
