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  • African leaders and International Solar Alliance chart bold path for solar future in Accra

    African leaders and International Solar Alliance chart bold path for solar future in Accra

    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.

  • NDC calls on Speaker to allow debate on NPP-cooked GNPC/Genser report

    NDC MPs

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    The Minority in Parliament has called on the Speaker to provide opportunities for the debate of the GNPC/Genser which is currently in the public domain.

     

    The Minority is not in agreement with the misleading information the report has dumped out about the gas sales.

     

    Their grievances was contained in a press statement released today.

     

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    Press Release

     

    For Immediate Release

     

    17th August, 2023

     

    *REPORT ON GENSER/GNPC GAS SALES AGREEMENT*

     

    My attention has been drawn to a report on some social media platforms allegedly signed by the chairman of the committee on Mines and Energy, Hon. Samuel Atta-Akyea on the Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) between Genser Energy and GNPC.

     

    For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to categorically disassociate myself from the content and intents of the said report as it does not accurately reflect my position and that of the minority in its entirety.

     

    Firstly, it is true that I have consistently maintained that the GSA is not fairly priced and will result in significant losses to the state. It cannot therefore be the case that I disagreed with the position of ACEP/Imani that the GSA in its current form will result in huge losses to the state.

     

    More importantly, it is inaccurate to report that the entire membership of the committee disagreed with my position.

     

    More importantly, the said report contains factual inaccuracies and assumptions that do not address the key issues of value for money.

     

    From the evidence, the current Genser/GNPC gas price of US$2.790/mmBTU is far lower than the actual commodity price of US$4.879/mmBTU as approved by the PURC. The critical question the report fails to address is which entity will eventually pay for the price differential of about US$2mmBTU, which runs into billions of cedis over the contract tenure?

     

    It is my hope that the referral by the speaker to the joint committees of the Finance/Mines and Energy will provide the opportunity to address the critical issues as noted.

     

    -Signed-

    John Abdulai Jinapor—MP

    (Ranking Member Mines and Energy Committee)

  • Tariffs increment: stakeholders challenge PURC amidst economic hardship

    Tariffs increment: stakeholders challenge PURC amidst economic hardship

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has justified the upwards review of utility tariffs.

    PURC’s justification comes in the midst of stiff opposition from major stakeholders and the citizenry. The Commission, last week announced a 27.15% increase in tariff for electricity and 21.55% increase in water tariff effective September 1, 2022.

    Business owners and ordinary citizens have all agitated against the upward adjustment at the time that economic hardship is biting everyone in the country.  Describing the situation as harsh, the Chief Executive of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) pointed out in an interview that, businesses were expecting moves that will reassure them—not a further increase in their cost of production.

    “If we continue increasing the cost of production for businesses, it will get to a time they will fold up and ask their workers to go home. The unemployment rate will get worse”, Mark Badu-Aboagye worriedly said.

    Mr. Badu-Aboagye argued that with the current situation of Ghana’s macro-economic indicators, government is expected to be sensitive to businesses.

    “There is a likelihood that a lot of businesses are going to run at a loss. Businesses are expecting policies that would rather bring some relief as inflation and interest rates go up. The tariff increment is going to raise the cost of production in the country”, he said.

    Providing some recommendations, Mr. Badu-Aboagye appealed to government to engage businesses regularly to understand the current challenges faced by the private sector.

    Earlier this, the utility companies including the Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Company Limited proposed an increase in tariffs by 148% and 334% respectively. The PURC had to do a nationwide stakeholders consultation before arriving at the current decision.

    Meanwhile, the Director of Regional Operations at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Alhaji Abukari Jabaru has explained that, every tariff has a control period and the last control period of the commission had expired.

    “The last tariff had a two-year control period but had expired and because it had expired they [utility companies] were obliged to submit a proposal based on the guidelines that were submitted to them”.

    “Originally they [utility companies] submitted a five-year tariff control proposal but had to go on with the three-year plan,” he said.

    Apparently, the Chamber of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Distributors and Bulk Consumers have challenged the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to ensure that consumers get value for money from the power consumed, but not pay for the inefficiencies of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

    The Chief Executive of the Chamber, Elikplim Komla Apertorgbor, in an interview to ascertain his reaction to tariffs increment said, ECG must live up to expectations and settle all its indebtedness to the key stakeholders within the electricity value chain.

    “I will like to challenge the regulator, the PURC to ensure consumers get real value for their money and not pay for ECG’s inefficiencies. Enough of commercial and technical loses, enough of these stories”.

    He mentioned that “let them up their game and provide us the best of service. I must commend PURC again and for the resolve to lower tariffs for the small and medium scale industries. On a first side, it is a great push and support for the local industries to thrive well in the competitive space.

    “In the midst of unimaginable economic conditions, the tariff adjustment has become inevitable especially when the underlying price determinants are out of control. The most important thing is for ECG to make the required revenue and settle the key stakeholders in the electricity supply value chain.

    “It will interest you to know that ECG as of the end of July this year has accumulated up to $908 million to the IPPs alone. So, it is important to make the required revenue to settle this debt”, Mr. Apertorgbor pointed out.

    Consequently, the Minority in Parliament in a statement signed and released last week by Ranking Member on Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, intuited that the increase in utility tariffs by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will only exacerbate the current high cost of living.

    According to Mr. Jinapor, the increase will also “worsen the plight of the already impoverished Ghanaian.”

    “Prior to the electricity tariff increments, petroleum products at the pumps have witnessed a colossal increment of about 100%. So far the Energy Debt Recovery Levy has seen an increase of 20%; the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy is up by 40%.

    “The Unified Petroleum Pricing Formula has been increased by 164%, whilst the BOST margin has been increased from three pesewas to nine pesewas representing a 200% increase. As if this is not enough, the fuel marking margin levy has also been increased by another 233%.

    This is against the background that the volume of petroleum products consumed has increased by 35% from 4 billion litres to 5.5 billion litres.”

    In this regard, he stated that “We are of the strongest conviction that Government can and must do something to cushion Ghanaians who are going through unimaginable hardships with ever-worsening poverty levels under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led government.”

    Mr Jinapor further clarified that the 27 per cent increase in electricity does not apply to every consumer.

    “A critical look at the tariff structure as announced reveals that all residential consumers who fall between 0-300 kWh bracket have witnessed a price increase from GHp/kWh 65.4161 to GHp/kWh89.0422, representing an increment of almost 34%.

    “It should be noted that the bulk of residential consumers fall within the 0-300 kWh bracket and will therefore be adversely affected by the 34% adjustment,” he stated.

  • NPP exposed on electricity excess capacity lies

    NPP exposed on electricity excess capacity lies

    Press Release

    For Immediate Release

    09/05/2022

    NPP FALSE CLAIMS ON EXCESS CAPACITY DISPLACED AS THE COUNTRY FACES EMINENT DUMSOR.

    The baseless and unfounded allegations by the NPP Government that, Ghana has excess electricity generation capacity, which the country does not need, leading to the payment of about GHC 17 billion in excess capacity bills, has been displaced with available facts as contained in the recently released 2022 electricity supply plan for Ghana.

    Sadly, these contrived and concocted narratives led by no less a person than the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia against the person of former President Mahama was therefore as needless as they are mischievous and propaganda-laden.

    The 2022 publication authored by a technical team known as “The Power Planning Technical Committee (PPTC)” inaugurated in 2020 by the Hon. Minister of Energy to among others examine, plan, and make recommendations for the Ghana Power System as per the requirement in Section-7 of the National Electricity Grid Code and Section 2 (2)(c) of the Energy Commission Act 1997 (ACT 541) makes very interesting conclusions.

    Amongst others, the report makes an astonishing but factual revelation that the Nation’s existing generating capacity will not be adequate to serve the projected demand with the required 18% reserve margin.

    It will be recalled that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at a recently held Tescon training and orientation conference at Kasoa made very wild and unsubstantiated claims on a so called GHC 17 billion payment by the state arising from what he described as excess capacity bills.

    The minority has since described this statement as false and baseless and has further challenged the Vice President and the NPP Government to produce the  details on such payments to substantiate this fictitious claim. It will interest Ghanaians to know that till date no such information has been made available.

    The current information as contained in the 2022 Electricity Supply Plan clearly points to a deceptive and dishonest narrative by the current NPP Government on the cause of the current economic hardship that the nation is experiencing.  

    For the avoidance of doubt, the following conclusions are drawn from the 2022 Electricity Supply Plan as captured in pages (vi)-(viii) of the report:

    1. An estimated amount of MMUSD 872.8 will be required to purchase Natural Gas to run the thermal plants (.i.e. a monthly average of MUSD 72.74).

    2. The provision for LCO, diesel and HFO during the gas outage period leads to a total of US$ 988 Million required for fuel purchase in 2022.

    3. Relocation of the 250 MW Ameri Power Plant from Takoradi to Kumasi reduces transmission system losses significantly. It also improves the voltage regulation in Kumasi & its environs and aids export.

    4. The existing generating capacities will not be adequate to serve the projected demand with 18% reserve margin for any of the planning years

    5. The timely completion of the committed projects barely has adequate generation up to 2024.

    5. Additional generation capacity will be needed from 2023, specifically, 184 MW, 187 MW, 114 MW and 337 MW additional generation capacity will be needed in 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2027, respectively.

    -RECOMMENDATIONS-

    Based on the above conclusions, the following are some of the key recommendations made:

    1. Due to the growing electricity demand in Ghana, there is an urgent need to make arrangements to increase gas supply volumes for more Thermal generation. It is also very important to make necessary investments towards an improved gas supply reliability owing to the increasing dependency on natural gas for power generation.

    7. Efforts should be expedited to complete the relocation of the 250 MW Ameri Power Plant to Kumasi by September 2022 to create a new generation enclave in Kumasi, among others.

    It is equally revealing from the report that the claim that Ghana has excess Gas leading to capacity payments are false. Indeed, the report rather recommends that efforts are made to increase available Gas supply. So, the Ameri plant was not bad and needless after all, as the NPP wanted us to believe.

    Thank you.

    Hon.John Abdulai Jinapor (MP)

    Ranking Member

    (Mines and Energy Committee)