News
First Nearly Zero Energy building commissioned in Ghana
Mrs Alhassan with other dignitaries commissioning the building
The Energy Commission (EC) in partnership with Germany International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) has commissioned a nearly zero energy building in Accra.
Being the first of its kind in the country, the building will consume only as much energy it generates, meaning it will produce its own energy for consumption and very little from the national grid.
Commissioning the building on Friday, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Mr Herbert Krappa, whose speech was delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Lydia Seyram Alhassan, said the facility represented a remarkable achievement and a critical step forward in the nation’s journey toward sustainable renewable energy solutions.
“This building stands as a beacon of progress, a powerful testament to what is possible when we turn our shared vision into reality and it is a symbol of commitment, innovation, and the boundless potential of working together toward a common goal,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr Krappa said the building embodies national commitment to addressing climate change and reducing carbon emissions.
The building, he said would serve as an Energy Academy and a dynamic hub of knowledge.
The Minister encouraged the EC to go beyond the theoretical foundations taught in traditional academic settings and seize the opportunity to explore innovative technologies, engage in pioneering research, and develop solutions that would define the future of energy for the country and beyond.
The Executive Secretary of EC, Mr Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, said with the Nearly Zero Energy Building, the commission aims to reduce the country’s carbon footprint, use renewable resources efficiently, and serve as a beacon of what could be achieved through foresight, planning, and commitment.
Being fairly cheap, he said the building stood as a testament to the potential of sustainable energy practices to transform the way they design, construct, and operate spaces.
The Cluster Coordinator at GIZ, Mr Tangmar Marmor, said the building has to inspire a drastic change in the building sector in the country to adapt to the low consumption building materials and buildings.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
