On September 10, 2025, the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Ghana, welcomed a high-level delegation from the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), a specialized ECOWAS agency mandated to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency across the region.
In line with the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy and the National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) of Member States, ECREEE launched the ECOWAS Certification of Sustainable Energy Skills (ECSES) in 2014. The initiative seeks to strengthen professional skills, address challenges of poor-quality installations and equipment, and harmonise regional certification standards for sustainable energy skills. The visit to UENR aimed to assess the University’s suitability as an Off-Grid Solar Training Centre under the ECSES programme, after being shortlisted based on a proposal submitted. This evaluation marks a crucial step in ECREEE’s mission to establish a gender-responsive, high-quality training and certification infrastructure across ECOWAS Member States. The ECREEE delegation was led by Dr. Claudino Franklin Mendes, Coordinator of the Certification Programme, and Mr. Collins Osae, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, together with National Focal Point Representative Rev. Ing. Dr. Seth T. K. Dzokoto. They were received by UENR representatives: Prof. Samuel Gyamfi (Ag. Director, RCEES), Dr. Prince Agyei Antwi (Ag. Deputy Director), Dr. Felix Amankwah Diawuo (Ag. Head, Department of Renewable Energy), Ing. Emmanuel Yeboah Asuamah (Research Fellow), Ing. Samuel Akowuah Okyereh, Mr. Matthew Anabaodnogo (Research Assistant), Mrs. Berenice Kyei-Mensah and Mrs Stephanie Aidoo.
Prof. Gyamfi welcomed the delegation, reaffirming UENR’s commitment to advancing renewable energy education and supporting ECOWAS’s sustainable energy agenda.
Ing. Asuamah highlighted UENR’s expertise in energy efficiency and encouraged ECREEE to integrate UENR into future training modules and planning. The mission included detailed presentations on the ECSES framework, followed by a comprehensive inspection of UENR’s facilities.
The visit concluded with a feedback session. Dr. Mendes commended UENR’s facilities and noted that ECREEE would review the findings and communicate its decision within two weeks. Institutions that meet the requirements will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ECREEE, formalizing their role in delivering off-grid solar PV training. This visit marks a significant milestone in building a skilled, gender-responsive renewable energy workforce across West Africa. UENR’s advanced facilities and demonstrated expertise position it as a strong partner to drive energy access and sustainable development across ECOWAS Member States.
