By:Austine Luseni
Communications Specialist
Ministry of Energy
Contact: 077377042/034157390
Ejisu Adako Jachie, Kumasi,Ghana,Friday August 6, 2021—— Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy,Alhaji Kanja Sesay,is in Ghana with senior administrative and professional officials of his Ministry on the invitation of PREFOS Limited-an accomplished solar street lights manufacturing company with headquarters in Kumasi,Ghana. Special Envoy for Trade and Investment in the Office of the President of Sierra Leone,Allie Turaykey,also played an important role in facilitating the invitation and the visit.
PREFOS Ltd. was established in 1991 and has since carved a brand name and reputation for itself in the business of solar street lights in not only Ghana but in the entire subregion.
Speaking at the experience sharing and interactive session at PREFOS’ headquarters in Kumasi,Alhaji Kanja Sesay said that he and his team felt highly honoured and privileged to have received such an invitation from PREFOS Ltd.,adding that the team already knew that Ghana had made considerable progress in the area of providing street lights for her people.
He said Sierra Leone was keen on replicating or adopting the Ghana model,noting further that it was on evidence of that that he had accepted the invitation from the company to travel to Ghana with a view to having a first-hand impression of PREFOS’ works and products and to forge partnerships.
The Minister of Energy said that Sierra Leone was still importing street lights which he said had some serious associated costs and quality assurance issues. He said he felt very proud as a West African to learn that there was such an impressive solar energy facility in Ghana which could prove so useful to the subregion.
Mr. Sesay recalled how the government of President Julius Maada Bio inherited a weak street lights system which had occasioned some serious nighttime inconveniences on particularly users of the renowned Lumley Beach. He said on the instruction of President Bio,he had since lit up the beach with street lights to the delight and acclamation of tourists and citizens.
Chief Executive Officer of PREFOS Ltd.,Alexie K.Fosu,welcomed the Minister and his delegation and introduced his staff to the visitors.He said he was looking forward to establishing a good and sustainable partnership with Sierra Leone while assuring also that his company would always keep its doors open to Sierra Leone.
PREFOS’ Kumasi Branch Manager,Frank Agyemang,said the factory at Kumasi had a warehouse,an assembly room, a training school and administrative rooms and showrooms.He spoke about areas where solar street lights were being deployed or used in Ghana,including highways,airports,promenades in cities,beaches and other public places.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy,Tamba Gbetuwa;the Chief Director of Energy,Ing.Benjamin Kamara; the EDSA Board Chairman,Ing.Sidi Bakarr ,and the Director of Renewable Energy,Robin Mansaray,among other names, are part of the delegation in Ghana .
It is hoped that the experience the team would gain from the visit would be used to positively bring to bear on Sierra Leone’s current solar energy drive.
