New lighting system to be piloted in 4 towns
Four towns have been selected to pilot an alternative lighting system based on the use of recycled plastic bottles.
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The key materials needed to produce the alternative light for homes are a PET bottle (made from polyethylene terephthalate that can be recycled), water, chlorine and glue.
The alternative lighting system is under a project dubbed: "Ghana — Colombia: Litre of Light for Peace Project", which is a collaboration between Ghana and Colombia, with support from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Queen Mother's Foundation and ROJALNU-Ghana.
The beneficiary towns are Mayikpor in the Ga West, Diego in Akuapem, Kontoma in Offinso and Komfokrom in Obuasi districts.
Background of project
In December 2013, the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015).
The global initiative was to highlight the importance of light and optical technologies for the development of society.
How it works
Explaining the initiative at a ceremony to launch the project in Accra yesterday, the Founder of Litro de Luz Colombia, Mr Camilo Herrera, said currently the project was used to provide light for rural and peri-urban poor areas that were not connected to a conventional electricity grid in many countries.
He said the method of lighting did not generate heat, as it derived power from the sun, required no maintenance, did not incur monthly costs and was self-sustainable.
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Mr Herrera said the materials required for production could be found everywhere and expressed the hope that the project would impact greatly on Ghana's electricity crisis.
In her remarks, the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Claudia Torbay Quintero, said the initiative formed part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.
She expressed the hope that the project would provide job opportunities for the youth, as well as improve the living conditions of people, especially those in the rural areas.
The Chief Executive Officer of the AMA, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuiye, said the project, when implemented, would benefit about 1,200 households in the four towns.