Africa’s solar revolution gained fresh momentum last week as the Seventh Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee for Africa was held in Accra.
The gathering brought together African energy ministers, international partners, and development institutions to craft actionable strategies for expanding solar energy access, innovation, and climate-resilient growth.
Presiding over the meeting, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, underscored that solar energy is more than an environmental imperative it is a driver of economic transformation.
“Advancing Africa’s energy transition is central to sustainable growth and shared prosperity. About 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. This is both a challenge and an opportunity to build bankable projects, attract private capital, and close the continent’s energy gap,” Jinapor said.
Ghana, alongside Seychelles, serves as ISA Vice President for the Africa Region.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, emphasised that economic progress must rest on clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
“Partnerships forged here can help Africa rise above the current 2% share of global clean energy investment. Ghana is ready to lead by example,” he affirmed.
Adding a global perspective, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and UN Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, stressed that solar remains the fastest and least-cost solution for expanding access.
“Even when connected, the average African consumes just 400 kWh per year compared to 13,000 kWh in the U.S. This inequity must not define our transition story. Africa must invest in Africa our sovereign funds, pension assets, and banks can unlock the capital needed for distributed renewables,” she said.
France and India co-presidents of ISA pledged renewed commitment.
H.E. Jules Armand Beaussieux, French Ambassador to Ghana, highlighted solar as a foundation for climate action, industrial growth, and job creation.
H.E. Manish Gupta, India’s High Commissioner to Ghana, reinforced India’s “One Sun, One World, One Grid” vision, citing joint efforts in solar home systems, water pumps, and clean cooking.
ISA’s Director General, Mr. Ashish Khanna, framed the Alliance’s new strategy as a shift from ambition to action.
“Access to energy is a human right. Our approach—through innovative financing, local capacity building, and partnerships—will empower countries to design their own solutions,” he noted.
Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs): Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia signed CPFs with ISA, focusing on solar rooftops, mini-grids, agriculture applications, and institutional support.
Solar for Agriculture: Programmes to scale solar-powered irrigation, cold storage, and farm systems aim to cut Africa’s US$400 billion food import bill while boosting jobs and resilience.
Mission 300 Alignment: ISA is committed to supporting “Mission 300”—a US$48 billion concessional financing initiative to electrify 300 million Africans.
Africa Solar Facility: Managed by Africa 50, the US$200 million catalytic fund seeks to mobilise over 20x private capital. Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority pledged up to US$150 million.
Digital Transformation: ISA unveiled AI-driven energy tools and “digital twins” for utilities to optimise solar integration, lower costs, and enhance reliability.
Equity and Capacity Building: Expansion of Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR-Cs) will ensure inclusive growth across underserved communities.
Mr Seth Terkper, economic advisor to Ghana’s President, captured the moment: “Africa holds nearly 60% of the world’s best solar resources. With strategic financing and capacity building, we can leapfrog outdated systems and lead the world in distributed renewable energy solutions.”
The ISA’s Africa Regional Committee, comprising 39 Member States and 7 Signatories, meets annually to coordinate policies, review progress, and strengthen solar development efforts across the continent.
Founded in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is the first intergovernmental body headquartered in India.
With 124 Members and Signatories, ISA champions affordable, sustainable solar power to advance energy access, drive investment, and cut carbon emissions.
Through partnerships with multilateral banks, governments, and the private sector, ISA designs business models, builds regulatory capacity, reduces technology costs, and mobilises financing paving the way for solar-powered solutions in agriculture, healthcare, transport, and industry.
