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The ECOWAS Commission, through ECREEE, and in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy (GFSE), the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) organised a high level energy forum in Accra, Ghana, from October 29 – 31, 2012, under the theme Towards Sustainable Energy for All in West Africa: Paving the way through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The event was organized under the auspices of the UN Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL) Initiative, which aims, by 2030, to: ensure universal access to modern energy services; double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix; and double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
The forum was formally declared opened by Mr. Emmanuel Amah Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister for Energy, Ghana. In his opening address, Mr. Buah noted that the issue of poverty in West Africa cannot be solved without the region achieving universal access to energy. In support of this statement, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of UNIDO, and Chair of UN-Energy, commented that the forum presented an opportunity for the policy makers in the ECOWAS region to draw up concrete actions for achieving sustainable energy for all. Ms. Irene Giner-Reichl, President of the GFSE, commended the ECOWAS Commission for its determination towards ending the energy crises in its region. She added that this determination has been recognized by other sub-regions in the continent- the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Eastern African Community (EAC) – and has encouraged them to do the same. Ms. Giner-Reichl urged the Minsters to continue in their effort to end energy poverty.
The forum brought together over 320 participants, including ECOWAS energy and environment ministers, leaders of international organizations, diplomats, and other major players to facilitate the establishment of a regional implementation framework for the SE4ALL Initiative in the ECOWAS region.
The forum featured a meeting of ECOWAS Energy Ministers which adopted resolutions relating to the ECOWAS Policy on Renewable Energy, ECOWAS Policy on Energy Efficiency, ECOWAS Small Hydro Power Program, and the ECOWAS Bioenergy Strategy Framework.
The forum also witnessed the official launch of the ECOWAS Energy Efficiency initiatives on standards and labelling, lighting, electricity distribution and efficient cooking. The ECOWAS Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECOWREX), developed within the framework of the implementation of the GEF-UNIDO Strategic Program for West Africa (SPWA), was also launched at the event.