CHAPTER SIX

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1 SUMMARY

Chapter One provides the layout of the study. The Chapter contains the introduction to the
study, the statement of the research problem, research objectives, research questions,
justification of the study, research methodology, contribution to knowledge, the scope and
limitation of the study, and the chapter outline.

The study endeavoured to bring to fore, the framework put in place by Ghana to mandate the
transition of the country from a country that was energy inefficient to an energy efficient
country, with the major aim of pointing out how Nigeria can go about addressing the current
energy inefficiency and energy wastage that currently bedevils the country.

The study captured the present state of inefficient energy consumption of appliances in
Nigeria in the statement of research problem, which is the foundation for the study. In
addressing the problem therefore, research questions were developed with the aim of
appraising the laws, policies, regulations that the Republic of Ghana enacted and the
programmes implemented with a view to change the energy consumption patterns of the
Ghanaian populace and by so doing, achieving a reduction in energy consumption, vis-à-vis
lessons that Nigeria can imbibe in its quest to achieve energy efficiency.
To achieve the objective, the study relied on primary and secondary sources of data were
consulted. Furthermore, the chapter provided the justification for making use of Ghana as a
reference point and not any other country.

Chapter Two provides an analysis of the several literatures hitherto composed which provide
an argument on the importance of energy efficiency. The chapter brought to fore the several
points of view of intellectuals who all agree on the fact that making end-use energy efficiency
happen requires two major actions: the making of a law or regulation to mandate the adoption
of energy efficient appliances, by introducing the Minimum Energy Performance Standards
and Labelling, on the one hand, and introducing fiscal incentives for both consumers and
manufacturers on the other hand.
The Chapter argues that since energy efficient appliances are by their very nature pricey
compared to the inefficient appliances, therefore to encourage the producers to engage in
their manufacture, and the consumers to be attracted to them, incentives must be introduced,
to prevent an energy efficiency gap.

Furthermore the chapter made clarifications on concepts made use of in the study, while the
theories supporting the arguments made in the study were also expatiated upon in this
chapter: The Penal Technique which is heavily relied upon in the laws and regulations made
in Ghana, to apportion punishment to individuals who contravene the provisions of the
statutes; the fiscal technique, deployed to encourage the adoption of energy efficient
appliance in Ghana by both consumers, importers and manufacturers, and the conferral of
social benefits technique, which guided the action of the Energy Commission of Ghana
towards the distribution of lightning apparatus to consumers who had no wherewithal to
purchase the Compact Fluorescent Lamps.

Chapter Three focuses on the legal and institutional frameworks put in place for the
achievement of energy efficiency in Ghana.

The chapter considered the primary legislation, to wit, the Ghana Energy Commission Act,
and the provisions of the statute which established the Energy Commission of Ghana, while
also empowering the minister-in-charge of energy to make regulations to make regulations,
on the advice of the Energy Commission, for electricity conservation and efficiency.

To this end, and relying on this power, three subsidiary legislations were made to combat the
incursion of inefficient appliances into Ghana.

These subsidiary legislations introduced Minimum Energy Performance Standards and the
Labelling of specific energy consuming appliances into the Ghana appliances market. These
legislations sought to mandate the adoption of energy efficient appliances by consumers in
Ghana, and also conversely imposed a ban on the importation, manufacture and offering for
sale of incandescent bulbs, refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.

In addition to placing a ban on these appliances, punishment was also imposed on anyone
who contravened the provisions of these legislations.
Several institutions were also established to act in different capacities, albeit towards
achieving and sustaining end-use energy efficiency in Ghana, to wit: the Energy Foundation,
Energy Commission, and the Ghana Standards Authority.

This chapter shed light on the support programmes introduced to encourage Ghanaians to
adopt energy efficiency. The CFL exchange programme, which focused on the distribution of
over 6 million CLFs to homes and public offices, in the place of incandescent bulbs, and the
Refrigerator Rebate and Exchange Programme, under which Ghanaians were encouraged to
adopt efficient refrigerators by turning in their old, used and inefficient refrigerators.

Finally, the chapter highlighted the several challenges were encountered by the Government
of Ghana in its drive towards achieving energy efficiency

Chapter Four features an analysis of the existing framework for energy efficiency in
Nigeria.

This chapter elucidates on the various laws and institutions that have hitherto carried out on
form of energy efficiency project or the other.

It also sheds light on the various laws and policies in Nigeria that make provision for the
promotion and adoption of energy efficiency in Nigeria.

Chapter Five provides a comparative analysis of the frameworks for energy efficiency in
Nigeria.

In carrying this out, the chapter relied on some parameters as the basis of the analysis. Such
parameters are the legal frameworks, the institutional frameworks, and the political will on
the part of both countries.

The chapter embarked on the comparative analysis of the frameworks put in place so far by
both Ghana and Nigeria towards achieving energy efficiency.

The chapter brought to fore the organised method by which Ghana went about implementing
its energy efficiency programmes and policies, while also shedding light on the
disorganization that exists in the Nigerian sphere, which has delayed Nigeria’s adoption of
energy efficiency.
6.2 Conclusion

The general objective of this study was to critically appraise the laws, policies, regulations
that the Republic of Ghana enacted and the programmes implemented with a view to change
the energy consumption patterns of the Ghanaian populace and by so doing, achieving a
reduction in energy consumption, vis-à-vis lessons that Nigeria can imbibe in its quest to
achieve energy efficiency. Specifically, the thesis sought to examine the factors that
influenced the Republic of Ghana’s transition from an energy inefficient country to an
energy efficient one, to appraise the laws, regulations, policies and support programmes that
served as the vehicles for the transition, and the accruing benefits, to assess the laws,
regulations and policies in Nigeria that mandate energy efficiency, and to examine how
Nigeria can learn from Ghana’s experience.
Nigeria as a country is one that is bedevilled with the issue of perennial electricity generation
and supply complications. Coupled with that, there exists an inclination amongst its citizens
for the consumption/usage of inefficient end-use energy appliances, which are mostly second-
hand goods from other countries. These appliances consume more energy than they actually
need as compared to energy efficient appliances and as a result, energy that would have been
better utilised gets wasted.
Ghana was a country faced with the same energy crises as Nigeria for a long time; problems
of generation and distribution of electricity plagued the country, while the country also had to
grapple with the incursion of second-hand and inefficient end-use energy appliances into its
territory, which also led to energy wastage, just like in Nigeria. However, Ghana has made
strides towards transforming the appliance market in Ghana, and by extension, the energy
consumption capacities of select appliances.
The thesis embarked on an analysis of the several literatures hitherto composed which
provide an argument on the importance of energy efficiency. The thesis brought to fore the
several points of view of intellectuals who all agree on the fact that making end-use energy
efficiency happen requires two major actions: the making of a law or regulation to mandate
the adoption of energy efficient appliances, by introducing the Minimum Energy
Performance Standards and Labelling, on the one hand, and introducing fiscal incentives for
both consumers and manufacturers on the other hand.

The thesis argued that since energy efficient appliances are by their very nature pricey
compared to the inefficient appliances, therefore to encourage the producers to engage in their
manufacture, and the consumers to be attracted to them, incentives must be introduced, to
prevent an energy efficiency gap.
To support the arguments made in favour of energy efficiency, this research brought to fore
the framework put in place by Ghana to mandate the adoption of energy efficient appliances
in Ghana, and to cause a change in the appliance market in Ghana.
The achievement of energy efficiency in Ghana was made possible in part by the enactment
of four legislations, the empowerment of select agencies and the introduction of a couple of
incentives, both for end users and manufacturers, although the incentives programmes faced
several barriers and challenges in the process of implementation.

A major factor in the achievement of energy efficiency in Ghana was the organisation and
clarity of purpose, and the manner of planning on the part of the part of the Government of
Ghana.

First the ECA was passed, following which the subsidiary legislation was made, after which
the incentives were introduced.

This research revealed on the other hand that the adoption of energy efficiency in Nigeria has
yet to attained the same level as that of Ghana.

What was discovered is that Nigeria, as compared to Ghana, there is no set plan for the
achievement of energy efficiency. This is despite the fact that there exists a National Energy
Efficiency Action Plan, which was developed, upon the approval by the Federal Executive
Council of the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy in the year 2015.

Finally, the research embarked on a comparison of the framework for energy efficiency in
Nigeria and Ghana, and pointed out the evidently flawed manner in which Nigeria has been
going about the process of engendering energy efficiency within its territory.
6.3 Recommendations

1. Enactment of a law to mandate energy efficiency and prohibit the importation of

inefficient appliances, which should also appoint an anchor agency, the energy
commission.
The first step to achieving energy efficiency is the passage of a law mandating energy
efficiency. In addition to this, the law must stipulate the Minimum Energy
Performance Standards for appliances which the federal government seeks to regulate
their importation or manufacture, and should also state the what is expected of the
labels to be attached on the appliances.
Furthermore, it is imperative that in addition to passing a law to mandate energy
efficiency, the law must also prohibit the importation of second-hand appliances and
appliances that do not meet the MEPS.
Finally, the law should also appoint a lead agency for energy efficiency in Nigeria,
preferably the Energy Commission of Nigeria, while also stipulating punishments for
the breach of the provisions of the law.

2. The National Orientation Agency to embark on massive consumer education on the

benefits of Energy Efficiency, and the Ministry of Education to introduce Energy
Efficiency into the curriculum, thereby creating a generation of Nigerians that are
conscious of the benefits of Energy Efficiency.
The National Orientation Agency is entrusted with the mandate of orientating
Nigerians on matters of national importance. Therefore, to educate Nigerians on the
benefits attached to being energy efficient, the NOA should be mandated and
empowered to embark on a continuous nationwide education of Nigerians.
In addition to this, the Federal Ministry of Education should be mandated to include
energy efficiency at both the primary and secondary school levels, to raise a
generation of energy conscious Nigerians.

3. Introduction of incentives to attract consumers to energy efficient appliances

 Because of the expensive nature of energy efficient appliances, there is the need to
introduce incentives, for manufacturers, to encourage them to manufacture energy
efficient appliances, for importers, to encourage them to import energy efficient
appliances instead of second-hand and inefficient appliances, and finally for
consumers, to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency by consumers of the
appliances in Nigeria.

4. Ministry of Environment to ensure a proper mode of disposal of inefficient

appliances.
One of the issues Ghana faced was the problem of disposal of used refrigerators and
incandescent bulbs. To prevent a repeat of such menace in Nigeria, the Federal
Ministry of Education and the Ministries of Education at state levels should educate
Nigerians, in collaboration with the NOA, on how to properly dispose used and
inefficient appliances.

5. Manpower Training and Development.

There needs to be training and retraining of the legislatures, men of the Nigeria
Customs Services, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Energy Commission,
the National Orientation Agency, the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal
Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Federal Ministry of Education. This is
in a bid to enable them understand the importance of energy efficiency and to enable
them discharge their duties with optimal understanding of what their duties entail.

In conclusion, Nigeria has a chance to get it right with mainstreaming energy

efficiency, and a veritable way of going about that is by taking a cue from both the
positive and negative effects of the energy efficiency programmes initiated in Ghana.
The manner in which the Ghana went about initiating the necessary programmes is
worth emulating, however, Nigeria would do well to prevent the occurrence of the
challenges Ghana faced, especially in the process of implementing its support
programmes.