Philips partnered with the Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) to propose a new solar-powered LED lighting concept, which will benefit at least 26 communities spread across Ghana.

At the Accra stop of Philips’ pan-African Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow, CEO of Philips Africa, JJ van Dongen, yesterday announced that the company will be installing 26 ‘Community Light Centres (CLC)’ at locations across Ghana. The concept of the CLC, according to Philips, is to create areas of light for rural communities which live without electricity, thus effectively create numerous opportunities for social, sporting and economic activities in the evening. These are areas of approximately 1000 square metres or the size of a small football pitch.

Philips explains that the project is to use solar LED lighting to improve the socio-economic developments in selected communities in Ghana. Officials of Philips say the first CLC will be opened at the Islamic Training Institute in Accra.

“Africa is starting a new reliable solar powered LED lighting revolution which will save energy as well as provide lights for those without electricity,” says Andre Dehmel, General Manager of Philips Lighting Africa.

Philips indicated that the next stop of its roadshow is Lagos. Officials will be in the Nigerian city on July 4, 2013.