Ghana is making significant strides in promoting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning solutions. Key initiatives include establishing a comprehensive Qualification, Certification, and Registration (QCR) system for RAC technicians, distributing advanced RAC tools and equipment, and conducting extensive training programs. Awareness campaigns and stakeholder consultations further bolster the green cooling agenda, highlighting the environmental and ozone protection benefits.
Green Cooling activities in Ghana are supported, among others, by the Ministry of Energy of Ghana, and its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the GIZ project Sustainable Energies and Energy Efficiency for Climate Protection (SE4C), which is financed by BMZ and implemented by Proklima. Various activities have been undertaken for the market adoption and acceleration of Green Air Conditioners that use natural refrigerants which have an ultra-low global warming potential and are energy efficient.
The establishment of refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) technician Qualification, Certification, and Registration (QCR) system was supported. This included the development of a draft legislative instrument and standard for RAC technicians’ competency training and certification in Ghana. To develop these products, the project was supported by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi. In interactive workshops, relevant stakeholders were consulted and involved in the decision-making process for the finalization of the products.
Technology transfer is a crucial part to level the way for standardized training of RAC technicians in green cooling. Consequently, RAC tools and equipment, and ACs with natural refrigerants (R290, propane) were distributed to four RAC Centers of Excellence located in Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale. Following, various trainings on the installation and maintenance of R290 ACs and safe handling of natural refrigerants with high level brazing commissioning and decommissioning competences were organized by SE4C and EPA to increase the capacity of Ghana’s RAC sector regarding green cooling. 17 national RAC trainers have been trained to train technicians on R290 ACs. Some of these national trainers where prequalified by EPA to conduct the training of the RAC technicians. Following, ten trainings of RAC technicians were conducted in the RAC centers of excellence and in partner organizations. In total around 280 technicians were trained.
The RAC sector is a significant contributor to global and Ghana’s Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, awareness campaigns and stakeholder consultations took place to enhance participants’ understanding of the green cooling agenda and related environmental and ozone protection benefits. It revealed their roles and responsibilities for market availability and acceleration of R290 ACs in Ghana. Three workshops, involving 75 participants from various stakeholder groups and sectors, were organized to raise awareness of green cooling solutions and familiarize stakeholders with the provisions under the Kigali Amendments of the Montreal Protocol.
Handover of the certificates
