What are the key factors that make Ghana an attractive energy investment destination?

Ghana offers a stable democratic environment, robust legal and institutional frameworks, and a clear regulatory structure. The Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) ensure transparency in licensing and tariff regulation. There is also a strong legal basis for contract enforcement and sector oversight. Socially, increasing demand for energy access, urbanization and industrialization create a growing and dynamic market. Ghana’s energy transition policy and climate commitments further provide long-term investment opportunities in renewable energy, natural gas infrastructures, and clean technology.

How is the Ministry supporting Ghana’s green transition journey?

The Ministry is executing a comprehensive Energy Transition Framework that focuses on decarbonizing the power and petroleum sectors, improving energy efficiency, and promoting alternative fuels. Key initiatives include expanding renewable energy through utility-scale projects, stand-alone systems, and solar mini-grids; development of clean cooking programs and improved biomass technologies; green hydrogen feasibility studies and coordination of the Ghana nuclear power program. We have the Renewable Energy and Green Transition Fund to mobilize finance for low-carbon infrastructure and local innovation.

These efforts align with the national goal of achieving 10% renewable energy in the power generation mix by 2030.

How does the Ministry encourage the development of local content in the energy sector?

The Ministry continues to champion local content and local participation across the energy supply value chain. In the upstream petroleum sector, robust regulations promote Ghanaian ownership, skills development, and service provision. These principles are being extended to the electricity and renewable energy sectors through the inclusion of local firms in procurement frameworks, promotion of local assembly and manufacturing of equipment, capacity-building program and partnerships with universities and training institutions, and encouraging joint ventures between local and international companies to enhance technology transfer and knowledge development.

How important is energy investment and development for industrial growth in Ghana?

Energy is central to industrialization and economic transformation. Reliable and competitively priced energy supports manufacturing, agro-processing, and value-added industries. To meet industrial demand, the Ministry is prioritizing energy security through fuel diversification and flexible generation.

We are strengthening transmission and distribution infrastructure to reduce losses and improve reliability, and deploying off-grid solutions to support productive use in peri-urban and rural areas. We also support Special Economic Zones with dedicated power infrastructure. Energy investment directly contributes to job creation, competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.

Can you discuss the Ministry’s priorities and expectations for the coming year?

Key priorities for 2025 and beyond include renewable energy development and the completion of ongoing utility-scale solar projects and expansion of mini-grids; intensifying grid and off-grid electrification to achieve universal access targets, and advancing the Ghana Nuclear Power Program through stakeholder coordination and infrastructure planning.

We are also promoting green hydrogen and clean fuels research with partnerships, and pilot projects to explore green hydrogen as a future energy carrier. We are promoting energy efficiency and digitalisation by enhancing system efficiency, smart metering, and digital grid management.

The regional energy trade offers opportunities for deepening participation in the West African Power Pool to optimize resource use and ensure supply security. We encourage private sector participation and strategic partnerships and investments to improve operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and service delivery.

As part of the Second Train of Gas Processing Plant (GPP 2) we are expanding gas processing capacity to meet growing domestic and export market demands. We also promote upstream investments by attracting exploration and production investments through competitive licensing and improved fiscal terms.

We set up the Renewable Energy Authority, thereby establishing a dedicated body to coordinate, regulate, and promote renewable energy development. We implemented regulatory reforms (PURC and Energy Commission merger) streamlining regulatory functions to improve governance, efficiency and investor confidence.

We are looking to reform downstream petroleum by enhancing competitiveness, transparency, and infrastructure in petroleum product distribution and storage. We will undertake open and competitive procurement of power generation, promoting transparency, value-for-money, and efficiency in power project selection. Finally, we promote clean cooking by expanding access to clean cooking solutions to improve public health, reduce deforestation, and lower carbon emissions.

These priorities are underpinned by strategic pillars such as regulatory predictability, technology deployment, local content enforcement, and a just energy transition.