The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has officially launched the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 1MW solar power plant for the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme. The project is a collaboration between Ghana and South Korea, and it aims to promote productive uses of solar energy in key sectors of the economy. The Minister emphasized the importance of energy in agriculture, noting that climate change has disrupted rain-fed agriculture and forcing countries to rethink farming methods.
He highlighted the need for clean, affordable, and reliable energy to support irrigation systems, and ultimately, food security. The Minister noted that Ghana currently irrigates only about 3% of cultivated land, despite having irrigation potential between 360,000 and 1.9 million hectares. He emphasized the need to invest heavily in renewable energy-powered irrigation schemes to boost food production and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture. The Dawhenya solar-powered irrigation project will provide reliable power for irrigation, reduce reliance on costly diesel generators and increase rice production and food security in Dawhenya and beyond. The project will also help lower greenhouse gas emissions in line with Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions and create green jobs for youth and women in agriculture and renewable energy. The Minister commended the local and international partners whose vision, resources, and technical expertise made the project possible. He emphasized the need for strong partnership between the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority to achieve impactful results for Ghana.
The Minister officially launched the groundbreaking ceremony, stating that the project will lay the foundation for a resilient, climate-smart agricultural future for Ghana. He emphasized the need for decisive action to recover all state lands designated for agricultural activities and ensure they are used for their intended purposes.