The solar-powered electrification project dubbed "Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme" (SREP) is expected to generate clean and sustainable electricity for over 70,000 people in the Bono East, Oti and Savannah regions.

At the launch of the project at Lala, an island community in the Sene East District of the Bono East Region, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, said the initiative would consist of 35 mini-grids and installation of 1,450 solar home systems in unelectrified off-grid remote communities.

Additionally, 12,000 net-metered rooftop solar PV systems will be installed nationwide to support Ghana’s transition toward a greener energy mix.

The project, which is expected to be completed in 15 months, is expected to contribute 13.5 per cent of renewable energy, excluding hydropower to Ghana's energy mix.

Championed by the ministry in partnership with the Climate Investment Fund, the Swiss Government, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project is to support the government's goal of reaching 99.8 per cent electrification by 2030.

The construction of the project is expected to create 2,859 jobs, targeting 30 per cent of women and youth.

Mr Jinapor said access to electricity in islands and lakeside communities was a prerequisite to power education, health service delivery and local businesses and opened up new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said the SREP initiative implemented by the ministry was aimed at expanding access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, particularly in underserved and off-grid communities.

"As a Ministry, we are not just installing solar panels or building infrastructure.

We are lighting up lives, empowering communities and bridging the rural-urban energy divide.

"Today, Lala and many other communities in the regions, upon the completion of the project, will benefit from renewable energy-powered mini-grids, the productive use of renewable energy and capacity-building initiatives to foster gender mainstreaming, sustainability and deliver progress," he said.

Mr Jinapor said about 250,000 people in 150 island communities at Afram plains in the Eastern Region had already benefited from the initiative.

He urged the beneficiary communities to embrace the project, protect the infrastructure and participate fully in the opportunities it would create.

Mr Jinapor advised the contractor to engage the services of local artisans in the construction of the project.

The Head of Corporation at the Swiss Embassy in Ghana, Magdelna Wust, said energy security was fundamental to the development of every country.

She explained that clean affordable energy boosted productivity and drove economic growth, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene East, Dominic Napare, said the project, when completed, will be a great sigh of relief to the people of the area.

He said when completed, it would facilitate the storage of vaccines and other medical consumables at the Lala community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compound he constructed.

"When the project is completed, government workers will accept postings here, particularly in the education sector," he said.

The Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Eunice Bretwum, said the commission was committed to ensuring the objectives of the SREP were achieved.

"We support this flagship programme of government in solarising Ghana towards the attainment of the country’s universal energy access goal and renewable energy policy targets," she said.