Ghana has secured a significant $1 billion package to support climate financing initiatives aimed at accelerating the country’s clean energy transition, Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has announced.
Speaking through a representative at a climate and energy forum hosted by the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani, the Minister revealed that the funding would support flagship programmes such as the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program (SREP), the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), and project pipeline development under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre.
The investment aligns with Ghana’s newly launched five-year Renewable Energy and Green Transition Action and Investment Plan, which outlines a roadmap for high-impact projects to advance sustainable energy and reduce carbon emissions.
According to Mr Jinapor, the plan is anchored in the National Energy Transition Framework and the Renewable Energy Master Plan. Key initiatives under the plan include the deployment of smart solar street lighting, the installation of electric vehicle (EV) superchargers along key transport corridors, and an increase in renewable energy capacity to at least 1,400 megawatts.
A central objective of the plan is to achieve near-universal access to electricity by 2030, targeting a 99.98% electrification rate.
Mr Jinapor also highlighted the creation of the Renewable Energy and Green Transition Investment Fund, aimed at unlocking private capital, supporting innovative green technologies, and promoting local research and development.
“Our transition is not only about technology—it is about people,” the Minister said. “True sustainability lies in the skills, institutions, and innovation ecosystems that power the transition.”
The Energy Ministry, he said, is working closely with international development partners, including the World Bank and the International Solar Alliance, to build capacity and set up Centres of Excellence focused on human capital development for the green energy sector.
Efforts are also underway to transform selected technical and vocational education institutions into regional training hubs for renewable energy, electrical systems, sustainable construction, and clean mobility.
At the same forum, Linda Serwaa Mensah, Principal Export Development Officer at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), stressed the need for Ghana to adopt a strategic approach to global trade in light of changing economic dynamics. She urged institutions like UENR to strengthen international collaborations through student exchange programmes, joint research, and global academic partnerships.
“Educational diplomacy can be a powerful tool for enhancing Ghana’s global competitiveness,” she said. “It opens doors for cross-border trade, investment, and innovation.”
The forum formed part of UENR’s International Day Celebration, held under the theme “Promoting Internationalisation, Visibility and Impact through Diversity and Inclusion”. The event celebrated the institution’s growing global outlook and its commitment to inclusive education and research partnerships.