Ghana is to pilot a solar energy programme to address the “age-old” challenge of premix fuel for outboard motors used by the country’s fisherfolk.
The country’s Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said solar energy could provide the answer to the problem.
The project would also mean a reduction in fuel costs for fishers and is expected to improve the reliability of their boats.
According to the Centre for Sustainable Transformation, as many as 2.2 million people in Ghana depend on the fisheries sector for their livelihood.
This includes around 135,000 fishers in the marine sector of which 92% are artisanal fishers.
“With this, we will make the outboard motors available to the fishermen and they don’t need to buy premix anymore. Once the sun is shining, their batteries will be charging and they can go across.”
The piloting of the solar- powered outboard motors, Bawumia stated, will start most likely next month, so that the fisherfolk can be shown how it works.
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