President Akufo-Addo has assured the global community of Ghana’s commitment to increasing the country’s share of renewable energy.
Speaking at a High-Level Event on Sustainable Energy for All, organised by Bloomberg Philanthropies, on the sidelines of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the President revealed that energy transition has become a global responsibility, especially in view of the impact of climate change, and the global energy crisis brought forth by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He revealed that with Ghana being a signatory to the Paris Agreement and other international conventions, which require the country to reduce her carbon dioxide emission levels, it has become imperative for the country to develop plans and strategies toward the creation of a net-zero energy sector, whilst aggressively pursuing the nation’s economic development.
“We will continue to increase the share of renewable energy in our electricity generation mix, as well as explore the options of hydrogen gas and other clean energy sources to meet our energy needs”
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo indicated that Ghana’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions, under the Paris Agreement, affirm the country’s resolve to address the impacts of climate change and build a resilient economy for Ghanaians. He explained that the country’s position on energy transition is to continue the “responsible exploitation of our natural resources for our development and transition” at the pace of the country.
“The Government of Ghana is mindful of the actions of the developed countries in relation to energy transition, and their effect on us.”
President Akufo-Addo
To this end, President Akufo-Addo expressed that it has thus, become necessary for Ghana to develop an Energy Transition Framework that will guide it, as the entire world moves towards realizing net zero.
Energy transition in the country
The President opined that the government, being mindful of the implications of such a framework and its implementation on the entire economy, directed the Committee to undertake extensive stakeholder consultations, in addition to expert input, to produce the National Energy Transition Framework to guide its transition to a net-zero economy by 2070 in a just and equitable manner, as well as minimise possible stranded assets and job losses in the oil and gas sector.
Additionally, President Akufo-Addo addressed the High-Level Meeting on “Just Energy Transition”, where he indicated that Ghana has developed a National Energy Transition Framework to provide the vision and guidance for Ghana’s energy transition.
In preparing this framework, the President stated that all existing policies were considered and the programmes that are being implemented towards achieving Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
“Wide stakeholder consultations were held to ensure that the energy transition issues in various parts of the country were captured and addressed in the framework. These included organized and non-organized labour, market women, academia, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Development Partners (DPs) and the international community.”
President Akufo-Addo
He explained that the Framework provides the optimal and sustainable pathway for fuel supply security, diversified energy mix and cost-efficient electricity generation, with an estimated generation tariff of less than US$4.5 cents per kilowatt hour to accelerate the socio-economic development of Ghana.
Ghana, President Akufo-Addo explained, aims to achieve universal access by 2024. He highlighted that the Energy Transition Framework will meet future electricity demand of 380 Terawatt-hours, with a corresponding installed capacity of 83 Giga-Watts.
“Ghana’s diversified energy mix will include 21 Gigawatts of renewable energy installed capacity, which will provide the opportunity to enjoy a greater share in the renewable energy carbon credit market.”
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo revealed that the transition will mitigate 200 million tons of carbon dioxide of Green House Gas emissions, minimising energy-related indoor air pollution and associated diseases.
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