Business magnate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has kicked against the construction of a coal-fired power plant by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the solution to the erratic power supply known in our local parlance as ‘dumsor’ in the country.

According to recent media reports, Volta River Authority (VRA) was planning to implement a coal-fired power generating plant in the Ekumfi area of the Central Region in collaboration with the Chinese to deal with the power problems facing the country.

But, Dr. Nduom wondered why the country will not invest rather in clean energy or solar?

“Why coal when its health effects are proven to be life shortening? Why not invest in clean energy? What is so wrong with solar? Indeed, why, why, why,” he asked.

In a statement issued yesterday to Today and signed by Dr. Nduom, the celebrated Ghanaian entrepreneur further asked: “Who in these poverty-stricken places is thinking about health and quality of life? Those who have travelled to China and West Virginia, USA and other places know the devastating impact of coal. When we have sun, oil and gas, why import coal?”

It would be recalled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Volta River Authority (VRA), held a public forum to assess the environmental impact of the proposed 2x350MW super critical coal-fired power plant at Ekumfi Aboano in the Central Region.
The forum, which was held in the Ekumfi District, was attended by chiefs, opinion leaders and the inhabitants of the five coastal communities that would be affected by the project.

These predominantly fishing communities are Aboano, Immuna, Otuam-Kontankore, Kokodo and Sarfa-Npoano.

The $1.5 billion project, which is being funded by the Chinese African Development Fund, would be constructed by Shenzhen Energy during a period of five years, and would add 700MW to the national grid and later expand to 2000MW in the next twenty years.

The project, which forms part of government’s efforts to solve the perennial power supply, would attract two (2) million tons of coal annually from South Africa to power the plant.

A three-member committee was subsequently set-up to put together all the concerns of the communities since this was the first coal power plant in Ghana.