The Registrar’s Office Monthly Presentation Series on August 22, 2025, focused on energy efficiency as a sustainable response to the global energy challenge. The event featured Professor Samuel Gyamfi, Acting Director of the Regional Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES), as the main speaker. His presentation was on the theme “Driving Institutional Excellence through Energy Efficiency.”
Professor Gyamfi emphasized the need to rethink energy use to protect national development and institutional progress. He highlighted the rising global demand for energy, overdependence on fossil fuels, and dwindling natural reserves as key drivers of the energy crisis. He noted that Ghana’s electricity access rate stands at 88.8 percent, yet the country faces high consumer tariffs, 27 percent electricity sector losses, and continued reliance on inefficient appliances. He stressed that energy efficiency and renewable energy are the two viable solutions to these challenges.
Using examples from the 2007 national bulb replacement program and the Refrigerator Exchange Project, he showed how these initiatives saved hundreds of megawatts and significant financial resources. At UENR, energy audits have revealed considerable wastage through lights and air conditioners left on in unused spaces, poor appliance maintenance, and deteriorating infrastructure. To address these, he proposed technology upgrades such as LED lights and motion sensors with potential savings of up to 31 percent in some facilities, behavioral changes to promote responsible use, accountability measures linking student consumption to responsibility, and policy development including rooftop solar and agrivoltaics.
He explained that energy efficiency is not only about cost savings but also about environmental protection, extending fossil fuel reserves, and enabling the transition to renewables. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, commended the initiative and affirmed the university’s commitment to sustainability. He stated that UENR aims to become a model institution for energy efficiency that can inspire other universities and organizations nationwide.
The Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Georgina Asi Owusu, stressed that the presentation series aims to raise awareness, share practical strategies, and foster a culture of sustainability within the university. She announced that the Vice Chancellor will revisit the topic in a future public lecture to deepen engagement.
The event also featured a presentation by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) team, led by Regional Manager Mr. Joseph Kwame Gyan, on the theme “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety and Accident.” The session provided guidance on safe LPG handling, storage, and transportation. Mr. Gyan underscored the need for strict safety practices in homes and institutions to reduce gas-related accidents across the country.
