Mr Kwame Agyeman-Budu, an energy expert has been appointed as the Acting Managing Director for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). He is to succeed outgoing MD Ing. Samuel Boakye Appiah who served in the position for 3 years. Kwame Agyeman-Budu the new ECG Boss, has mainly worked in the United States but until his new appointment was the Deputy Managing Director for Corporate Services in ECG.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Mr. Agyeman-Budu undertook his primary and secondary education in Kumasi. He pursued a professional teacher’s certificate at the Wesley College also in Kumasi.
He continued his education in the US where he attained both professional and academic qualifications. Among them Certificate in Facilities Management, Associate Degree in Applied Science Electrical Engineering Technology, Bachelors and ultimately a Masters in Energy Management from the New York Institute of Technology.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY OF THE NEW ECG BOSS
Mr. Agyeman-Budu has a rich industry experience spanning about 28 years. The bulk of his experience has however been in the United States . He has since managed several projects, including projects at Consolidated Edison Company (ConEdison) of New York, the largest utility company in the US which serves over 1 million natural gas consumers. A prominent project he managed is a $15 million Tension Gateway Project (GEP) at LaGuardia Airport
Agyeman-Budu’s years of experience in the energy industry cut across areas of Distributed Generation (Combined Heat & Power – CHP), Solar (Photovoltaic), Advanced Battery, Windmill, and Fuel Cell Technologies, Alternate Energy, Environmental Audits and Monitoring, Environmental Risk Assessment, Power Plant Systems, Smart Grid Systems, and Systems Engineering and Management.
AWARDS
His career in the US has won him numerous awards recognizing his hard work at the work place and also in his community and church.
He has written a book, Energy Efficient Lighting.
This appointment has happened at a point where the ECG/PDS saga has been abrogated. It may as well be an attempt by the government to bring a fresh face to the institution to move ECG from there. However, being a political appointment he should be in a position not only to professionally perform his tasks but very importantly to satisfy political conditions. Considering that his large career experience and exposure is in the United States, he would need to make a great deal of personal adjustments to survive in the role.
