Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting a national biogas initiative aimed at equipping Senior High Schools with biodigesters and clean energy technology to reduce dependence on traditional fuels for cooking.

The pledge was made by the Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, during a courtesy visit by the management of DAS Biogas, a renewable energy company that specialises in converting organic waste into clean energy.

Gyan-Mensah emphasised the importance of prioritising the renewable energy sub-sector to attract private sector investment, noting that such carbon-focused development initiatives align with the government’s broader green transition agenda.

He assured the delegation that their request to scale up the clean cooking intervention to cover 200 Senior High Schools nationwide would be reviewed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI).

The project, which aims to replace wood and charcoal with environmentally friendly biodigester cookstoves, has already been successfully piloted at Accra Girls’ Senior High School and the Police Training Academy, demonstrating its potential for broader national impact.

Ing. Seth Mahu, Director of Renewable and Green Transition at the Ministry, explained that while MESTI serves as the focal agency for carbon initiatives, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition must provide technical endorsement for biogas-related projects.

“Because this intervention involves clean energy solutions, our Ministry’s support is necessary,” he stated.

Otema Yirenkyi, who led the DAS Biogas delegation, noted that the project is ready for expansion and only requires a letter of no objection from the Ministry to unlock carbon financing from international partners.

“We’ve signed a framework agreement. What remains is the Ministry’s no objection letter so we can proceed with the carbon project developers,” she said.

The proposed technology poses no financial burden on the government and is expected to receive swift approval, given Ghana’s established experience in biogas solutions.

Ministry officials estimate that the endorsement process could be completed within one month.

The initiative is expected to not only cut emissions and protect the environment but also improve health outcomes and reduce fuel costs for schools across the country.