NRGI Commends Progress on Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, Raises Concerns Over Coordination and Transparency
The Africa Director of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), Nafi Chinery, has commended Ghana’s strides in developing a robust energy transition agenda, but cautioned that institutional coordination and stakeholder transparency must be strengthened to ensure the successful implementation of the country’s clean energy ambitions.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on the assessment of Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, Ms Chinery observed significant improvements in policy design and strategic modelling since the framework was launched in 2022.
“I think there has been a huge improvement from where we started,” she remarked. “We now see a lot more analysis on the implications of the transition process, diversification in options — not just gas, but also nuclear and solar — and even financial targets.”
According to Ms Chinery, the framework’s realistic outlook, which includes a phased plan towards net-zero emissions by 2070 and an investment capital estimate of approximately $550 billion, reflects more serious and inclusive planning efforts by government stakeholders.
“The government has done some modelling in terms of scenario planning, looking at all the policy options and their implications. That helps avoid uninformed decisions,” she added, noting also that gender and social inclusion were increasingly considered in policy design.
However, she raised strong concerns about the lack of effective institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement, particularly around the development of the Renewable Energy Master Plan.
“I worry that there isn’t a lot of engagement and transparency around this plan. For instance, how involved are civil society organizations in developing this master plan?” she questioned.
She also highlighted the absence of an integrated strategy between the Ministry of Energy and other relevant institutions, such as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Transport, and Agriculture — all of which play pivotal roles in emissions reduction and energy transition.
“As we look to exploit our transition minerals, how are we leveraging revenue from those minerals to support our shift from fossil fuels to green energy? That’s not clearly laid out,” she pointed out.
On the role of Ghana’s national oil company, the GNPC, Ms Chinery challenged the sustainability of continued investments without clear alignment to the transition objectives, calling for a reassessment of the corporation’s future role and impact on the broader energy shift.
Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, launched in 2022, is supported by an Energy Transition Investment Plan introduced in 2023. The framework outlines viable decarbonisation pathways with a net-zero target set for 2070, while the Investment Plan aims to attract capital and ensure a just and inclusive transition.
Despite the commendable progress, Ms Chinery urged the government to move from “rhetoric to real action” by tightening the policy framework, deepening multi-sectoral collaboration, and fostering open stakeholder dialogue.
“There’s a lot of policy on paper, but in terms of actualization, there’s a lot to be done,” she concluded.
