The Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, has underscored the country’s unwavering commitment to accelerating energy access and implementing urgent sector reforms.
He made these remarks during his keynote address at the Mission 300 Ghana Compact Review Workshop at the Best Western Hotel in Accra.
The stakeholder engagement, organized with support from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), convened key actors across government, development institutions, civil society, and the private sector to review Ghana’s draft National Energy Compact.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Deputy Minister welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of the workshop in shaping Ghana’s energy future.
“This workshop aims to present the draft National Energy Compact and gather valuable stakeholder input,” he said, describing the compact as a “blueprint for equitable energy access, renewable energy expansion, and a resilient energy sector.”
The event is part of Ghana’s engagement in Mission 300, a bold continental initiative spearheaded by the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AfDB), SEforALL, and other global partners, to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
Ghana, having joined the second cohort of participating countries, is currently finalizing its National Energy Compact ahead of its presentation at the next African Energy Summit.
Hon. Gyan-Mensah recalled that President John Mahama signed a joint declaration at the January 2025 Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, committing Ghana to a series of energy sector reforms, including scaling renewable energy, enhancing electricity access, and attracting private investment.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the pressing financial challenges within the sector, citing a US$2 billion annual shortfall. “Increasing electricity tariffs alone is not an effective solution,” he stated, calling instead for comprehensive reforms across the energy value chain.
He disclosed that Cabinet had approved private sector participation through multiple concessions in electricity distribution. “Addressing ECG’s inefficiencies alone could half the sector’s shortfalls,” he remarked.
He also revealed that the Legislative Instrument for the competitive procurement of generation capacity has been resubmitted to Parliament. “This Compact comes at the right time to facilitate the reforms needed in the energy sector,” he added.
Underscoring the importance of collaboration, Hon. Gyan-Mensah acknowledged the contributions of Ghana’s development partners, particularly SEforALL, the World Bank, and the AfDB. “No single entity can achieve this alone. The success of Mission 300 hinges on partnerships,” he said.
The workshop, according to the Deputy Minister, seeks to:
* Refine the draft Compact’s strategic priorities.
* Identify risks, synergies, and delivery models; and
* Strengthen alignment across sectors for effective implementation.
He urged participants to engage openly and constructively, stressing that the goal is not just a refined compat but renewed momentum towards universal energy access. “Together, we can turn the promise of Mission 300 into a reality for millions of Ghanaians. The time to act is now,” he concluded.
