A new body, Biogas Association of Ghana (BAG), has been formed to promote the sustainable development of the biogas sector in Ghana.

Its objectives are to carry out, encourage and support research into the biogas technology and to ensure the development of quality standards by training actors in the industry based on modern approved practices.

The Association was initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ghana National Cleaner Production Centre (GNCPC) and the Energy Commission, at a meeting in Tema, to represent firms, institutions and individuals involved in biogas technology.

Dr Elias Delali Aklaku, the President of BAG, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the Association was formed to influence policies that were aimed at improving sanitation, accessibility to energy, agriculture and the control of global warming.

He explained that biogas or anaerobic digestion technology provided sustainable solutions to most of the country's sanitation, energy and agricultural challenges, hence the Association to transform the biogas industry by creating awareness of its benefits.

Dr Aklaku gave the assurance that the Association would build the capacity of practitioners to collaborate with the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), EPA, Energy Commission and other institutions in setting standards for the industry and also solicit investment in the sector.

Mrs Lovas Owusu-Takyi, the Executive Member of BAG, expressed gratitude to the GNCPC, EPA, the Energy Commission and the United Nations Environmental Programme for their support to the Association.

'We will also support the government and development partners in addressing climate change issues and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Ghana,' he said.

Mr Daniel Digber of the GNCPC promised that they would work with the Association to enable them to operate effectively as a strong advocacy institution for biogas development.

Other members of the Association elected at the meeting to manage the affairs of the Association for the next two years are Mr Moses Pumpuni, Mr Daniel Osei-Bonsu, Mr Joseph Bright Amenorfe, Enoch Kofi Boadu, Miss Selorm Etsa Seddoh, Miss Gloria Asantewaa, and Mr John Kofi Donkor.

GNA