KNUST and TUM SEED Centre Launch New Solar Phase; Boosting Rural Development and Entrepreneurship

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in partnership with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) SEED Centre, has inaugurated a new phase of the Yeboakrom Community Solar Project. The event, held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, in Yeboakrom near Duampompo in the Juaben-Ashanti District, was themed “Achieving the Triple Nexus of Architecture, Energy, and Entrepreneurship for Rural Development in the Global South.”

The Scientific Director of the Project, Professor Rexford Assasie Oppong, highlighted the objectives of the new phase, which is designed to promote energy access, entrepreneurship, and sustainable architecture while ensuring financial sustainability for the initiative. He emphasized the importance of integrating renewable energy solutions with economic development to uplift rural communities.

Explaining the genesis of the Project, Professor Oppong noted that it began in 2019 after identifying Yeboakrom’s pressing need for electricity, despite the community’s significant agricultural contributions to Ghana’s economy. “We targeted rural areas that lacked electricity but produced vital crops.

Yeboakrom stood out due to its proximity to the Accra-Kumasi Road and KNUST, as well as its cocoa and plantain production. However, the absence of basic energy infrastructure was a major challenge,” he explained.

The first milestone of the Project came in December 2022, when 46 solar-powered light poles were installed to provide electricity to parts of the community. Encouraged by this progress, residents worked together to purchase an additional 10 poles to support ongoing efforts to connect Yeboakrom to the national grid through Boamadumase.

While full electrification of the township remains a work in progress, the solar mini-grid represents a critical step toward sustainable development. Professor Oppong reassured community members of continued technical assistance and highlighted the transformative potential of the Project.

“This solar mini-grid will empower small- and medium-scale enterprises, foster entrepreneurship, and stimulate economic growth within Yeboakrom,” he stated. The initiative exemplifies how academic and technical partnerships can address pressing developmental challenges in underserved areas.

With its innovative blend of architecture, energy, and entrepreneurship, the Yeboakrom Community Solar Project aims to become a model for rural electrification and sustainable progress across the Global South.