Accra as hub for meetings in West Africa

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Sep 15, 2019

ECOWA's Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency announces the third annual ‘Sustainable Energy Forum’ in Accra.
The event convenes key public and private sector actors to develop financial opportunities and economic incentives to address West Africa region’s most pressing energy challenges

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Centre for
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has announced that it will be
hosting the Third Annual ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) on 22-24 October in
Accra, Ghana. This year’s venue will be the Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City.
Under the high patronage of His Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, the event
will bring together West Africa’s top elected officials, policymakers, industry thought leaders and
other individuals committed to moving forward the sustainable energy agenda. With support of
ECREEE and its sister agencies, the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS
Regional Electricity Authority (ERERA), the region has made tremendous strides in putting in
place the policy and regulatory framework for a viable sustainable energy market. As such,
translating this enabling environment into concrete projects powering inclusive energy access
and growth is one of the key objectives of ESEF2019.
This year’s forum also marks a special relationship with two partners with a demonstrated
commitment to sustainable communities around the world: Alliance for Rural Electrification
(ARE), the off-grid industry association consisting of more than 130 members active in Africa to
deliver innovative clean energy solutions; and GET.invest, a European program that
mobilizes renewable energy investments.
“The ECOWAS region is on the brink of major transformation and no sector can catalyze such
transformation more than the energy industry,” says Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director,
ECREEE. “In 3-4 short years, we have seen tremendous progress in the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects and off-grid electrification is also progressing at a fast pace.
With major initiatives such as the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP) and the
West Africa Clean Energy Corridor, ECREEE is proposing key investment opportunities to
facilitate a more sustainable West Africa.”
“Building on the recent memorandum of understanding signed with ECREEE at the fifth ARE
Energy Access Investment Forum in Abidjan this year and the recommendations that emerged
from the subsequent policy dialogues, ARE is keen to develop win-win partnerships between
the local and international private sectors, as well as deepen cooperation to boost off-grid
renewable energy technologies in West Africa,” says Marcus Wiemann, Executive Director,
ARE.
Special guests at this year’s ESEF include high-level delegates, among them:
● H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President, The Republic of Ghana
● H.E. Jean-Claude Brou, President, ECOWAS Commission
● John Peter Amewu, Minister of Energy, Ghana
● Alhaji Kanja Seesay, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Sierra Leone
● Dr. Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo, Minister of Energy, Burkina Faso
● Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Energy and Mines, ECOWAS
● Executives from the climate and energy finance sectors, technology
manufacturers and distributors, and others
The forum will provide a platform for improving the policy and regulatory landscape for private
sector investment, where attendees will be able to liaise with financiers and secure other
resources to fund their business endeavors.
Various themes will be covered over the 3-day event, namely: utility-scale renewable energy
projects, off-grid electrification, energy access, financing, and investment. As such dedicated
B2B sessions for project promoters and investors to mingle. Additionally, a large exhibition will
be held at ESEF2019 to allow manufacturers, developers, financial institutions and other
companies to showcase their products and services. Interested parties should contact
sponsor@ESEF2019.org. ESEF2019 aims to be a platform for establishing long-lasting,
valuable partnerships between ECOWAS policy makers, regional and international private
sector players including financial institutions.
As a true testament to ESEF’s growing success and dedication to collaborative, solution-oriented pathways, this year’s ESEF is supported by The Austrian Development Cooperation
(ADA); The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID); UNIDO;
German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ); The World Bank Group; The European
Union; The Global Environment Facility (GEF); Sustainable Energy for All; GET.invest; and
ARE.

About ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) was
established by the ECOWAS Commission in 2008 during the 61st Session of ECOWAS Council
of Ministers. ECREEE is a specialized ECOWAS agency based in Praia, Cabo Verde, with a
public mandate to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency markets. It acts as an
independent body but within the legal, administrative and financial framework of ECOWAS rules
and regulations. The overall mandate of ECREEE is to contribute to the sustainable economic,
social and environmental development of West Africa by improving access to modern, reliable
and affordable energy services, energy security, and reduction of energy-related externalities
(GHG, local pollution). Since its inception, ECREEE has been working diligently to create
favorable conditions for regional RE & EE markets by supporting activities directed to mitigate
existing technology, financial, economic, business, legal, policy, institutional, knowledge and
capacity related barriers.

About GET.invest

GET.invest is a European program that mobilizes private sector investments in decentralized
renewable energy projects. Supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the
Netherlands, and Austria, it builds a bridge between business and project developers, financiers
and regulators.

About The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE)

ARE is an international business association that promotes a sustainable decentralized
renewable energy industry for the 21st century, activating markets for affordable energy
services, and creating local jobs and inclusive economies. We enable improved energy access
through business development support for more than 130 Members along the whole value chain
for off-grid technologies.