The Ghana Goals Project, under the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has commissioned electric cookers (e-cookers) in selected senior high schools in the Ashanti Region as part of efforts to promote clean cooking technologies and reduce reliance on traditional biomass fuels.
The initiative aims to deploy renewable energy and innovative e-cooking technologies to lower carbon emissions and improve air quality.
The beneficiary institutions include Yaa Asantewaa Girls' Senior High School, Bosomtwe Girls' STEM Senior High School, and the Catholic Technical Institute.
Dr. Richard Opoku, the project's Technical Lead, emphasized the need for a transition to cleaner cooking technologies to mitigate environmental and health challenges.
“A significant portion of our population still relies on wood fuel for cooking, which poses serious environmental and health risks. Our goal is to shift towards sustainable alternatives, beginning with secondary schools,” he said.
According to him, through extensive research, the team developed the e-cooking technologies, marking a step toward achieving Ghana's target of net-zero emissions by 2060.
Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Provost of the College of Engineering, highlighted the benefits of e-cookers in enhancing access to clean and reliable energy while improving the quality of life in communities and educational institutions.
“The introduction of e-cookers in selected schools aligns with our goal of promoting clean cooking technologies that reduce dependence on traditional biomass, enhance kitchen efficiency, and contribute to environmental sustainability,” he stated.
He urged stakeholders, school authorities, and policymakers to embrace and sustain such renewable energy solutions for the benefit of current and future generations.
The headteacher of KNUST Senior High School, Mr. Anthony Antwi-Bosiako, expressed appreciation to the donors and partners for selecting his school as a pilot site.
He appealed for further support to expand the initiative and assured that the school would maintain the e-cookers to ensure their long-term functionality.
