The Volta River Authority (VRA) remains committed to diversifying its operations through innovation, its Chief Executive, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, has reiterated.
Speaking on the side-lines of the authority’s Creativity and Innovation roundtable discussion in Accra, Mr. Antwi-Darkwa explained that his outfit plans to develop and operate renewable energy plants in an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner. Already, he said the VRA has made significant progress towards increasing the share of renewables in its power generation and is looking to explore new opportunities in electric vehicles, solar and wind energy, as part of efforts to reduce its carbon footprints.
“Out of the government’s renewable energy masterplan which targets 2,514 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030, we want to take 20 per cent, accelerate it and do it by 2026,” he said.
Panel Discussion
The panel discussion was part of activities to mark the authority’s Creativity and Innovation Day scheduled for April 26 this year. The day will also mark the 62nd anniversary of the company.
The panel included the Chief Executive Officer, Phyto-Riker Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Theresa Randolph and the Managing Director for the Absa Bank Ghana, Abena Osei-Poku.
They spoke on the topic: “Culture of innovation- the imperatives”, with Mr. Antwi-Darkwa describing the initiative as part of the company’s plan to contribute to the global efforts at reducing carbon emissions.
“Globally, the aim is to have less carbon footprints and that’s essentially what we want to do and because of that we are coming up with a lot of innovation in the area of renewables, as well as in the area of our own traditional plants, using natural gases,” he explained.
For her part, the Managing Director of Absa Ghana, said creativity and innovation are the only ways through which any company could navigate its way through challenges.
Citing her company’s transition from Barclays Bank Ghana to now Absa Bank Ghana, she said the biggest element that sparked a culture of innovation in the company was the announcement that Barclays UK was pulling out of the Africa business.
“There was no engagement prior to that, we all heard it on the news. Initially, there was some panic but very quickly, the leadership team got together and began working and brainstorming on how to survive the shock,” she added.
