Ghana’s energy sector has attained stability with surplus power being exported to neighbouring countries, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has disclosed.
He said government was now turning its attention to expanding renewable energy and bridging energy access gaps across the country.
Speaking at a press conference during the 7th Regional Committee Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for Africa in Accra on 4 September, Mr Jinapor stressed the importance of ensuring every Ghanaian household has access to electricity.
“Our power supply is fairly stable. We have enough, and we are even exporting. Our vision is to have a minimum of 10 per cent of our energy mix emanating from renewables, and that even excludes our hydro potential,” he stated.
The minister revealed that government plans to roll out solar-powered irrigation pumps nationwide to promote all-year-round farming, particularly in the dry season. According to him, India has agreed to partner Ghana in this initiative, which will also include the training of local artisans.
“India has pioneered it, and we want to learn from them. They have agreed that they will collaborate with us,” he said, noting that a Memorandum of Understanding would soon be signed.
At the ISA summit, which brought together 19 African Energy and Power Ministers alongside representatives of 39 member states and seven signatories, delegates examined solutions to Africa’s widening energy crisis.
Mr Jinapor lamented that over 600 million Africans still lacked access to electricity while nearly one billion people had no clean cooking options.
Despite being the sunniest continent, he observed, Africa generates only four per cent of global solar power and attracts less than two per cent of clean energy investment.
“Universal access to energy is not merely a development goal, it is a moral imperative,” he said.
The Director-General of ISA, Ashish Khanna, announced the ratification of the Africa Solar Facility—a $200 million catalytic fund designed to mobilise over $800 million in private investment for decentralised renewables, beginning in Nigeria.
He further revealed that 12 solar technology education centres would be set up across Africa, including one in Ghana, to build technical expertise, youth innovation, and research capacity in solar energy.