Accra: The government of Ghana has announced a significant initiative to replace grid-powered streetlights with solar-powered systems across the nation. This transition aims to enhance the reliability of public lighting and diminish the country's dependence on the national electricity grid.
According to Ghana Web, the move, disclosed on August 24, 2026, is driven by the advantages solar-powered streetlights offer over conventional ones. The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, highlighted that solar-powered units can operate independently, ensuring continued operation even during power outages or technical issues that may affect grid-powered lights.
Agbodza stated that the government has decided to prioritize solar-powered systems for all new road projects and streetlight replacements. This nationwide transition will be spearheaded by the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor. "Government has taken a decision to replace all streetlights with solar. With solar, even if one is damaged, the others can work," Agbodza emphasized.
The initiative also signifies that the government will cease the installation of main-grid-powered streetlights for new projects, marking a full shift towards solar energy for public lighting.
Additionally, the minister addressed the recent failure of traffic lights on the Accra-Tema Motorway. Contrary to initial suspicions implicating the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), investigations revealed that the issue stemmed from the removal of underground cables, leading the government to commission a new contractor to rewire the system completely.
The nationwide transition to solar-powered streetlights is not only expected to forge a more resilient public lighting infrastructure but also to lessen the reliance on the national electricity grid.