Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has assured that the country’s power supply is now stable, with surplus energy being exported to neighboring states. He also reaffirmed government’s commitment to achieving universal electricity access while expanding the share of renewables in the national energy mix.
“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 coming from renewables, excluding our high-flow potential. Immediately, we want to deploy solar irrigation pumps across the country,” he said.
Mr. Jinapor made the disclosure during a press briefing at the 7th Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee for Africa, held in Accra on September 4. The summit brought together 19 Energy and Power Ministers from across the continent including Malawi, Liberia, Seychelles, Comoros, Nigeria, The Gambia, Somalia, and São Tomé and Principe, alongside representatives from 39 member states and seven signatory nations. Discussions centered on practical strategies for expanding energy access, solar innovation, and climate-resilient development.
Solar for Agriculture
The minister revealed plans to roll out solar-powered irrigation pumps nationwide to support year-round farming. He noted that Ghana was drawing lessons from India, which has successfully deployed such technology, and confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding would soon be signed to include training for local artisans.
Africa’s Energy Gaps
Addressing the broader continental challenge, Mr. Jinapor highlighted that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, while close to one billion people live without clean cooking solutions, particularly in rural communities. Despite being the sunniest continent, Africa contributes only four per cent of global solar power generation and attracts less than two per cent of global clean energy investment.
“Africa’s energy inequity extends beyond infrastructure—it reflects underinvestment, unequal access, and structural barriers that hinder our progress,” he said. “Without affordable, clean, and reliable energy, ambitions around industrialisation, job creation, food security, and climate resilience will remain out of reach. Universal energy access is not just a development target but a moral imperative”
He also stressed the need for innovative technologies such as Floating Solar Photovoltaics (FSPV) to tackle the crisis, adding that Africa’s energy transition must focus on empowering communities and driving sustainable growth, not just on expanding megawatt capacity.
$200m Solar Facility for Africa
ISA Director-General Ashish Khanna disclosed that the Alliance, which has 124 member states, had ratified the establishment of the Africa Solar Facility, a $200 million catalytic fund. About $75 million of the fund is expected to become operational by the end of 2025, unlocking over $800 million in private investment for decentralised renewable energy projects starting in Nigeria.
He further announced that ISA would set up 12 solar technology education resource centres across Africa, including one in Ghana. These centres will provide technical training, testing labs, and youth incubation programmes to strengthen local capacity and innovation in solar energy.