Ghana Nears Universal Electricity Access – Finance Minister
Washington, D.C. – April 18, 2024
Ghana is on the cusp of achieving universal electricity access, with current access rates exceeding 88.85%, announced Amin Adam, the Minister of Finance, at a World Bank Group event on Wednesday.
Speaking at the flagship program themed “Energizing Africa: What Will It Take to Accelerate Access and Improve Lives,” part of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF, Mr Amin Adam highlighted Ghana’s strategic initiatives and future plans aimed at connecting the remaining underserved communities.
Since the early 1990s, Ghana has adopted deliberate policies to extend electricity to its populace, launching the National Electrification Scheme and the Rural Electrification Programme, among others. These initiatives, including a cost-sharing model with communities, have significantly boosted the national electricity coverage.
However, challenges persist in reaching ungrid and island communities. To address this, the government plans to introduce mini-grids and other innovative systems to achieve near-total coverage by year’s end, setting the ambitious target in line with the industry standard of 90% for universal access, Minister of Finance Dr Amin Adams said.
Minister Adam also emphasized a pivotal shift in Ghana’s approach to energy procurement. “In the past, we procured energy through unsolicited projects which turned out to be very costly,” Adam explained. He revealed that Ghana has since moved to a competitive procurement process, especially for renewable energy, to secure more capacity at lower costs.
The minister warned against the acquisition of unnecessary generation capacity during crises, a practice that has historically led to inflated costs and inefficiencies. Instead, he advocated for long-term planning and strategic infrastructure development to ensure equitable electricity distribution throughout the country.
The discussion at the World Bank event also highlighted a critical issue facing Sub-Saharan Africa, where over half a billion people risk lacking electricity access by 2030, with many residing in conflict-affected areas. The World Bank Group, along with its partners, has committed to deploying innovative financial and technical solutions to accelerate electrification rates faster than population growth.
These efforts aim not only to connect millions more Africans to electricity but also to foster economic transformation and lift millions out of poverty across the continent. Adam’s presentation at the World Bank underscored the pivotal role that energy access plays in achieving regional development and economic goals.
