Ghana Launches Bold Solar Projects to Cut Peak Demand

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has issued a rallying call for Africa to chart its own path toward energy independence, as he opened the 2025 Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) in Accra. Speaking under the theme “Innovate, Invest, Implement: Revolutionised Financing for Sustainable Energy Sector Growth in Africa,” Jinapor emphasized that the time had come for a fundamental shift from extractive economic models to locally driven energy innovation.

He described the traditional model—where Africa exports raw materials while importing finished energy products—as outdated and ineffective. “It’s a model that has not worked, and hoping for different results is no longer an option,” he said. Instead, he urged African countries to embrace innovation, local ownership, and inclusive energy development anchored in a strong policy framework.

The Minister pointed out the stark energy poverty facing the continent, with over 600 million people lacking access to electricity, 80% of them in rural areas. He warned that without reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy, Africa's potential for economic growth and social progress would remain stunted.

However, he cited Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as positive examples of progress. Ghana, he announced, is preparing to connect 150 off-grid communities through solar solutions and is also rolling out all-in-one solar street lights to reduce nighttime peak energy demand by 300 megawatts. “If successful, this initiative alone could offset our peak power demand and lead to significant savings,” he noted.

While reaffirming his support for renewable energy, Jinapor cautioned against unfair global energy transition expectations. He criticized the imposition of double standards by global powers, especially as some western nations revive coal and nuclear projects while Africa is discouraged from exploring similar options. “The transition must be equitable. Africa must be allowed to industrialize using affordable baseload power,” he asserted.

He also stressed the importance of building robust African financial markets to fund energy projects independently, without exploitative conditions from external lenders. “The full capitalization of the African Energy Bank must be a top priority,” he urged.

Jinapor placed youth and women at the center of Africa’s energy revolution, describing them as the continent’s greatest untapped resources. He also called for transparency and accountability to root out corruption and inefficiency that have plagued energy sectors across the continent.

With a mixture of humor and seriousness, he welcomed delegates on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, joking that he had been temporarily granted presidential powers for the event.

The AETC 2025 brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore disruptive technologies, strategic policies, and new financing models for Africa’s energy future.