Ghana capable of owning future of its energy – First Sky Group Boss

Executive Chairman of the First Sky Group, a wholly owned Ghanaian group of companies, Eric Seddy Kutortse has challenged local expertise to take charge of the future energy ecosystem of the country since the nation boasts of the required local capacity to deliver present and future energy projects to accelerate economic development.

Mr. Kutortse noted this was the only way the country’s energy sector could be guaranteed by harnessing the power of our natural resources—sun, wind, and water—to drive our economic growth and reduce our reliance on imported energy.

The bold call by Mr. Kutortse was made during a working visit to inspect the ongoing construction of a 50MW Solar PV generating power station in the Yendi District of the Northen Region on September 30, 2024, by a high-powered delegation from the members of Parliamentary Committee on Energy led by its Chair Hon. Owuraku Aidoo.

The inspection delegation also included the the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman, Board Chair of Bui Power Authority (BPA), Hon. Kwesi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, members of the Board of BPA, Chief Executive Officer of BPA, Hon. Kofi Dzamesi, Senior Management of BPA, Chief Executive Officer and Management of GRIDCo, MP for Yendi Constituency, Hon Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama, the District Chief Executive of Yendi Municipal Assembly among other dignitaries.

The inspection visit was to offer first hand update on the progress of work on the first and largest wholly-owned Ghanaian initiative, which started a year ago, executed by First Sky Limited, a member of the First Sky Group and first-class road and civil engineering firm, on behalf of Bui Power Authority, the nation’s renewable energy leader.

Sharing a brief on the progress of work, executed on behalf of BPA, Mr. Kutortse disclosed that the Solar PV Project in Yendi, sits on about 140 acres land filled with solar panels to harvest 50 megawatt of renewal power in Ghana and stands as the first of its kind—a fully Ghanaian-owned renewable energy initiative, adding that it is also the second largest solar project in the country with the 55MW Solar PV Project at Bui, the first largest, undertaken by the Bui Power Authority.

“This project, a landmark milestone, is more than an investment; it is a statement. It says that Ghana will not be left behind in the global march toward renewable energy. It says that we are ready to lead, to innovate, and to create an energy system that is not only sustainable but owned, operated, and driven by Ghanaians”.

“This is because across the globe, the energy landscape is shifting. Nations are moving away from fossil fuels, and the world is looking to renewable energy. Ghana cannot afford to lag behind. And today, with this project, we take a bold step towards that vision.”

“As the largest solar farm being undertaken by an indigenous company, it is important to note that all the experts on the project are Ghanaians, from the First Sky Limited and there is no foreigner working on this project” Mr. Kutortse affirmed.

Commenting on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer of BPA, owners of the project, Hon. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi applauded First Sky Group for being the first Ghanaian company to build a solar plant in the country.

“I want to commend the Executive Chairman of First Sky Group because all the solar plants that have been built in the country were built by foreigners, either Chinese, Swiss or others but this is the first indigenous company that is building a solar plant” he remarked.

He further explained that First Sky had done the engineering works, the procurement and the financing of the project and when completed, Bui Power would generate and sell the power whilst it repaid the financing over an eight-year period, adding that the solar panels had a warranty of twenty-five years.

Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, Hon. Owuraku Aidoo, indicated that as Bui power had the mandate to increase solar power penetration in the country, the Yendi project was in line with Government’s agenda of getting about 10 percent of a total mix of energy coming from renewables and therefore his committee was keenly watching the progress of the project.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman, delighted with progress of work, explained the most impressive part of the Yendi Solar Project was that if any of the panels within the twenty-five-year period, there was a process to change the deteriorated ones to ensure the facility maintained the 50-megawatt capacity until a major replenishment was undertaken.

Board Chair of Bui Power Authority, Hon. Kwesi Ameyaw-Cheremeh impressed about the outcome of the project, noted “this is the first time I am seeing what has been done by the First Sky Groups of companies.

I am truly pleased that a wholly indigenous Ghanaian company could do this, it means what we should continue to have faith in ourselves and if we do that, we will build ourselves and we will do things for ourselves and Ghana will be a better place us” he said

As the contractor, First Sky Limited with the approval of Bui Power Authority, the employer, has proposed to execute the project in two phases; completion of 20MWp by end of October 2024 in Phase One and execution of 30MWp by end of 2024 in Phase Two.

The project, an engineering, procurement and construction with financing for a 50MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant and Ancillary works includes, construction of a solar farm, 5km of access road and two-unit, two-storey, two-bedroom staff accommodation.

The project when completed will contribute to Government’s efforts at ensuring energy security and reliability for the country and a step towards achieving the outcomes of Ghana’s Energy Transition Agenda.

The delegation had earlier called on the Galgul Laana, NAA Kassim Norgah, who led the team to pay a courtesy visit to the Yaa Naa, King of the Dagbon Kingdom, His Royal Majesty NAA Gbewah Yaa-Naa Abukari Mahama II, for his blessing.