Italian Astronaut Visits Akosombo Hydro Generation Station

Italy is one of the few European countries who have collaborated with Ghana in many sectors with the aim of supporting the government to improve the socio-economic standard of Ghanaians. One of such collaborations gave birth to the construction of the Akosombo Hydro Generation Station, one of the biggest hydro dams in sub-Saharan Africa.

On his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa, an Italian astronaut with the European Space Agency, Paolo Nespoli, has paid a working visit to the Akosombo Hydro Electric Generating Station to familiarize himself with the operations of the plant and to trace its Italian root.

Mr Nespoli, who is in the country on the invitation of Multi Choice and Eutelsat Communications Group, said he is enthused with the level of architecture and technology that went into the construction of the dam. "I am still amazed how the human race can take advantage of the environment to live better and obviously this project is one." He however admitted that a lot of Ghana's resources are still untapped creating room for a lot of potential growth in the future but said any future growth would need to be sustainable since indiscriminate use would end up depleting the resources.

Mr Paolo Nespoli revealed that once there is a point of reference of major land marks on earth it is possible to see them from space even though not too visible and the Akosombo dam is probably part of the collection of pictures he took from space. "I took about 26,000 pictures from the Space Station within six months and am certainly sure that the Volta Lake is part of it", he indicated.

The Executive Chairman of Alltel Limited, Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson, who facilitated the visit to the Authority's facility said he settled on the Akosombo Hydro Electric Station because the team is interested in improving the capacity building of the youth with interest in Science and Information Technology.

He said Energy requirement of the country is in the ascendancy hence the need for partnership with the private sector and one of the ways of pushing this agenda through is by bringing them to have first-hand information about the situation on the ground.

Receiving the delegation on behalf of Management, the Director Hydro Generation, Mr. K.B Amoako said the Authority is proud to be associated with the good works being done by Eutelsat and Multi Choice Ghana. He noted that the Authority is always ready to extend a helping hand to institutions and individuals pursuing human centred causes that would in a long way impact people's lives positively.

The Communications Director of Eutelsat Communications Group, Fredeique Gautier said for the past three years Eutelsat Communications Group has been organizing a science and technology competition for students at the university level among 42 countries hence the need to bring somebody with high level of knowledge in the field. She said she was impressed with the passion exhibited by a lot of Ghanaian students towards science and technology which point to the fact that Ghana's future in these areas is blissful.

Ing. Charles Des Bordes (first from right) - Plant Manager, Akosombo GS - explains operations at the Plant to Mr. Paolo Nespoli (third from left) and his team.

In other news (February, 2014)

• VRA lauded for Prioritizing Safety of Staff.
• Human Resources Department holds Departmental Durbar.
• VRA Board of Directors sworn into Office.
• Chief Executive expresses Confidence in Ghana Gas Project.
• VRA, PSWU Donate to Family of the Late Samuel Aboagye.
• VRA Tennis Club beats Army Mess Tennis Club.
• VRA Shuttle Driver Chauffeurs Staff to Safety.
  

 

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