A Look at the Key Policy Proposals by the CSO Alliance Adopted into Manifestoes of NPP, NDC and Movement of Change
Dennis Gyeyir, Policy Analyst and Africa Senior Program Officer at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), speaking at a post-manifesto engagement with three political parties – NPP, NDC and Movement of Change – hosted by the CSO Alliance, outlined the extent to which major political entities have adopted policy recommendations on energy transition.
According to Mr Gyeyir, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Movement for Change have all integrated varying degrees of the policy proposals into their manifestos, setting the stage for the energy sector’s role in shaping Ghana’s future.
The CSO Alliance, comprising four coalitions and eight organizations, presented 15 policy recommendations to the political parties, with the NPP and NDC each adopting 40% (six proposals), while the Movement for Change implemented 27%, translating to four proposals.
NPP: Solar Ambitions and Nuclear Energy Development
In its manifesto, the NPP commits to leadership in energy transition, with a focus on strengthening local content and cybersecurity in the energy sector. The party plans to align its energy transition framework with the integrated power sector plan and roll out a substantial 2,000 megawatts of solar energy. While this target is ambitious, the lack of a definitive timeline has raised concerns among policy analysts. The NPP’s manifesto also touches on promoting solar energy development in secondary schools and government institutions, as well as expanding off-grid electrification solutions.
Moreover, the party emphasized accelerating the work of the Ghana Nuclear Power Authority, demonstrating a strong inclination toward diversifying the country’s energy mix. Another key focus of the NPP’s energy strategy is establishing an accelerated renewable energy sector skills development plan, aimed at creating a workforce capable of driving the energy transition.
However, the absence of specific timelines for these initiatives could impede their effectiveness, according to Mr Gyeyir. While the NPP’s adoption of these policies aligns with global trends, the lack of detail leaves room for ambiguity, making it challenging to assess the feasibility of their execution.
NDC: Comprehensive Energy Strategy and Carbon Footprint Reduction
The NDC’s manifesto outlines a broad energy transition strategy, one that emphasizes the augmentation of thermal and hydropower production, while also incorporating nuclear and renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biogas, and waste-to-energy. The party’s manifesto stands out for its specificity, particularly regarding the planned investment in mini-hydro projects. The NDC has identified specific sites—Jwali, Walugu, and Praha—as potential areas for hydro development, aiming to harness local water resources to support surrounding communities.
The NDC also made a clear commitment to reducing Ghana’s carbon footprint, a positive move noted by the CSO Alliance. By addressing carbon reduction in its manifesto, the party aligns with global sustainability efforts and positions Ghana as a responsible actor in the fight against climate change.
In the upstream petroleum sector, the NDC proposed a strategy to increase exploration, with the aim of replacing reserves and attracting capital to boost investment. This would involve restructuring the regulatory framework to enhance its appeal to investors. Additionally, the party suggested the development of marginal fields through a multifaceted system that balances infrastructure development and profitability.
Another significant aspect of the NDC’s proposals includes plans to reform the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), transforming it into a more efficient national oil company capable of driving local content and technology transfer in the energy sector.
Movement for Change: Prioritizing Green Energy and Reducing Political Interference
The Movement for Change adopted a more modest portion of the CSO Alliance’s recommendations, implementing four proposals. Nonetheless, its manifesto demonstrates a pragmatic approach to energy transition, with a focus on addressing both current and emerging challenges in the sector. The party proposes a review of Ghana’s energy sector strategy and transition plan to ensure it remains responsive to the dynamic landscape of energy demand and technological advancements.
The party’s manifesto places particular emphasis on low-cost, efficient, and green energy sources, specifically highlighting hydrogen and nuclear energy as priorities. This aligns with broader global trends, where hydrogen is increasingly seen as a potential game-changer in energy storage and generation. However, the party’s proposals are less comprehensive than those of the NPP or NDC, lacking the same level of ambition and detail.
A notable point in the Movement for Change’s platform is its pledge to reduce direct and indirect political interference in the management of the energy sector. This is a crucial area of concern for many industry stakeholders, who argue that political meddling has long hindered the sector’s growth and efficiency.
A Critical Juncture for Energy Policy
Ghana stands at a critical juncture in its energy transition, with each political party offering a distinct vision for the future. The NPP’s ambitions, though lacking in detail, present a significant shift towards renewable energy.
The NDC, on the other hand, has laid out a comprehensive, carbon-conscious strategy that addresses both short-term and long-term needs.
The Movement for Change, while more conservative in its approach, emphasizes the importance of good governance in the energy sector.
As the nation approaches the next election, energy policy is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Ghana’s economic future and environmental stewardship. The degree to which these manifestos translate into actionable policies remains to be seen, but the commitments made reflect an understanding of the growing importance of sustainable energy.
Below are the 15 key policy reforms proposed to the various political parties by the CSO Alliance:
- The next government should commit to more ambitious transition timelines and be more deliberate in its efforts at attracting investments into the renewable energy sector while ensuring justice and equity. Specifically, oil and gas companies operating in Ghana should be incentivized to consider investing in the downstream beneficiation activities in the green minerals sector.
- The next government should leverage the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2015 (Act 815) to finance the Energy Transition agenda, as development of alternative energy sources (often interpretated as Renewable Energy) is one of 12 priority areas outlined in the PRMA. Parties must also commit to revisiting the stalled process of amending the PRMA.
- The next government must leverage the country’s vast forests and corporate-sponsored afforestation initiatives to obtain carbon credits from other nations or large emitting companies through carbon trading. This is key for raising additional finance to invest in R&D in green technologies. Ghana’s potential to sequester, including planned interventions by some oil companies operating in the country, must be evaluated for this purpose and have a national policy developed to guide implementation.
- The next government should activate Article 15 of Ghana’s Petroleum Agreement which emphasizes domestic supply requirements for crude oil to domestic refineries to enhance upstream and downstream synergy while ensuring economic stability, reduction in oil importation, job creation and efficiency within the oil and gas sector.
- The next government should commit to addressing the gas sector indebtedness by improving efficiency in the power sector and reforming the corporate governance of SOEs in these sectors.
- The next government should also commit to fostering institutional alignment in the gas sector and provide innovative financing for gas infrastructure to enhance gas monetization and the effective use of gas as a transition fuel.
- The next government should commit to establishing a Youth Green Fund to provide loans on favorable terms and incentivize financial institutions to invest in youth-led green startups.
- The next government should commit to enhanced collaboration between the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to align Ghana’s industrialization agenda.
- The next government should commit to tackling illegal mining and its associated gold smuggling, illicit financial flows, money laundering and financing of serious organized crimes (SOC).
- The next government should commit to Regulatory Simplification: Review registration and regulatory processes to reduce bureaucratic barriers for green startups.
- The next government should commit to Green Incubation Hubs: Create incubation hubs to provide support services like mentorship and training for green startups.
- The next government should commit to amending the Public Procurement Act to require procurement entities to proactively publish the full contract documents on their websites. It should also tighten the rules around single-source procurement, requiring higher-level approvals and detailed justifications. The amendment should introduce mandatory annual procurement performance reports by all public entities, published and reviewed by an independent body.
- The next government should commit to political parties and campaign financing reforms including enforcing existing disclosure requirements in the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) and expanding them to cover candidates at all levels (Presidential, Parliamentary, Assembly).
- The next government should commit to prioritizing the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill which includes provisions on Asset Declaration and Conflict of Interest.
- The next government should commit to providing a funding mechanism for research and advocacy for civil society organisations to enhance their role in nation-building.
