Politicization of Ghana’s energy sector: any consequence(s)?

Source: (IRENA, 2020)

Table 2: Total of Yearly Solar Energy Production of the World

Source: (IRENA, 2020)

Aside these, Ghana also started producing solar energy for the first time in 2013 (with 3MW per year), this was increased more than ten (10) times (34MW per year) under Former President Mahama (IRENA, 2020) by the time he left office in 2016, as shown in Table 1 (Arrowed Gold). But though Ghana has started on a very good note in the production of solar energy, she is not amongst the Top Fifteen (15) solar energy producing countries in Africa, see table 2.

Ghana also started her first renewable energy production in 2011 (2011-2015) under Late President Mills of blessed memory, with Former President Mahama as his vice (VRA c., 2020; IRENA, 2020) after passing a “Renewable Energy Law” (IAEA., 2018; Owusu-Adjapong, 2018) that same year. But as all Ghanaians can testify, most of the works on this were done by his Excellency Former President John Dramani Mahama as can be seen in these (VRA c., 2020; IRENA, 2020; IAEA., 2018; Owusu-Adjapong, 2018).

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion: Life on earth is like a journey (Madry, 2019) that we are all making, full of interesting lessons that sometimes demand us to lower our speeds (Debnath et al., 2021; Barkham, 2016) at “curves” (Ariën et al., 2017), “potholes” (Fan et al., 2019) (Barkham, 2016) or “traffic lights” (Novak et al., 2020; Ahn & Chol, 2019). Some of these inevitable situations in life where we are forced to slow down is when the world is hid with infectious pandemics like HIV/AIDs (Reyes-Estrada et al., 2018), Tuberculosis (Tellier et al., 2019), Ebola (Jacob et al., 2020; Patel & Shah, 2020), and now COVID-19 (Logie & Turan, 2020). Amongst these inevitable situations in life, is violence too which could occur in so many ways especially through dirty politics; like the politicization of issues of national or international importance.

The constant politicization of Ghana’s energy sector is an excellent example of these dirty politics, and it is a red traffic light that is warning us. These politicizations can be likened to a driver playing with his/her phone in a red traffic light (Huth et al, 2015) instead of paying attention to avoid road accident (Labonté et al., 2019). The discriminations and stigmas caused by these politicizations cannot be compared to that of infectious disease like HIV (Reyes-Estrada et al., 2018) or COVID-19 (Logie & Turan, 2020). They are obstacles that do not allow some politicians and their supporters to love for peace (Matthew, 22:34-40. 1611. KJV).

So, behaviors like that further promote discrimination and stigma which are already global cancers that need serious solutions. Just as respect is very important in health (Beach et al., 2017) so is respect very important in politics too, but over politicization of issues especially issues of national or international importance creates disrespect reduced patriotism (Gangl et al., 2016). For the recommendations or suggestions, wait for a book on this.

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