UEW Hosts Capacity-Building Training on GPP
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) on Friday, 2nd April, 2025, hosted a high-impact technical training on Green Public Procurement (GPP) at the Registrar’s Conference Room, North Campus, Winneba.
The event empowered procurement officers, university administrators and facility managers with essential tools to reduce energy consumption and champion Ghana’s path to net-zero emissions.
The training, conducted by environmental procurement specialists Mr. Edwin Kwasi Tamakloe and Mr. Hubert Nsoh Zan, aimed to bridge the gap between policy and implementation by equipping participants with hands-on knowledge of how sustainable procurement can transform energy use across public institutions.
Mr. Tamakloe emphasised the strategic value of Green Public Procurement in reshaping the market and addressing climate crisis.
“Public institutions like ours have the power to drive demand for cleaner, greener products. GPP is not only about compliance; it's about leading change, creating value and influencing how goods are produced and delivered,” he said.
He further underscored that integrating sustainability into procurement processes results in long-term cost savings and positions institutions as champions of climate-smart governance.
“Every tender we issue, every appliance we procure, is a vote for the kind of future we want. If we demand sustainability, the market will respond,” Mr. Tamakloe added.
Taking a more technical approach, Mr. Zan elaborated on best practices for procuring energy-efficient appliances—particularly air conditioners and refrigerators—and introduced participants to the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) model.
“We need to move beyond the lowest price mentality. The MEAT approach helps us factor in energy efficiency, refrigerant type and long-term savings—not just what seems cheapest upfront,” he urged.
He advocated the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants such as R-32 and R-290, which have lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). He explained how technical specifications in tender documents could promote cleaner technology.
“When you require approval from the Energy Commission and demand clear energy labels, you are not just ticking a box—you are raising the bar for energy performance in this country,” Mr. Zan noted.
Mr. Zan encouraged institutions to appoint ‘Energy Champions’, invest in conservation technologies and share best practices during staff durbars. “The public sector should not just be consumers—we must be innovators and influencers in the sustainability space,” he said.
Participants were introduced to practical tools for implementing GPP including market analysis, bulk procurement strategies, and sample tender documents designed to help institutions procure appliances that are both cost-effective and environmentally sound.
During the interactive segment, attendees were quizzed on energy conservation habits such as efficient ironing and cooling practices. These discussions sparked engaging reflections on institutional behaviour change.
Mr. Jerry Addison Anyan, Deputy Registrar of the Division of Operations, pointed out that the event’s relocation to UEW from Cape Coast marked more than a change in venue, adding that it highlighted UEW’s commitment to being a leader in environmental education and institutional sustainability.
“UEW is proud to host such an important conversation. We are not only training the next generation of educators but also demonstrating how institutions can lead by example,” he said.
The training concluded with a renewed call for collaborative procurement strategies, continuous staff education and strong leadership to ensure that green procurement becomes the new standard across Ghana’s public sector.