Bah F. M. Saho was the Acting Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) from 2020 to 2022. Mr. Saho served previously as the Principal Program Officer for Renewable Energy. Under his leadership, the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Program achieved significant results, including the adoption of the landmark ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Bioenergy Policies, which seek to advance the uptake of sustainable energy technologies and services for improving energy access. He is also the Coordinator of the BiocharPlus Project at ECREEE, and at the forefront of the establishment of the Africa Biochar Partnership. He currently serves as the interim Coordinator of the Africa Biochar Partnership.

Prior to joining ECREEE in 2010, Mr. Saho served as the Director of Energy in the Gambia from December 2000. In The Gambia, he was responsible for the overall national energy policy planning, formulation and implementation of programmes and projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. Some of Mr. Saho’s accomplishments include development of a National Energy Policy (NEP 2005) document, formulation and enactment of Electricity Act, drafting of petroleum legislation, establishment of a framework condition for funding for renewable energy legislation and elaboration of a Household Energy Strategy document.

Mr. Saho holds a masters degree (M.Sc.) in Renewable Energy and the Environment.

Mahama Kappiah was the Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) from 2010 to 2020. He was eminent in the establishment of the Centre which aims to ensure increased access to reliable, affordable and clean energy in the West African region. Under his leadership, ECREEE has attained international recognition as a unique regional renewable energy and energy efficiency promotion agency in sub-Saharan Africa, with other regional economic communities such as the EAC and SADC seeking to emulate.

Prior to the establishment of ECREEE in 2010, Mahama Kappiah was Head of the ECOWAS Energy Division. Some of his achievements include the creation of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulation Authority (ERERA). Before joining the ECOWAS Commission, he worked in the Planning and Development Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA) of Ghana.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the Kharkov Polytechnic Institute, Karkov, Ukraine. He has over 25 years of experience working on issues related to energy, environment, climate change and sustainable development in West Africa and internationally. Mr. Kappiah is the recipient of the African Energy Leader Award 2017, and the Green Future Leadership Award 2017, in recognition of his work in sustainable energy development.

Source : Mahama Kappiah – WEMC (wemcouncil.org)