Accra: The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced the government's initiative to deploy over 1,000 megawatts of emergency power to address Ghana's ongoing energy deficit. According to Jinapor, the need for Africans to resolve their own challenges and foster local participation has become imperative.
According to Ghana Web, Dr. Jinapor addressed participants at the 2026 Africa Energy Technology Conference in Accra, emphasizing that energy poverty remains a significant barrier to Africa's development. He highlighted that approximately 600 million Africans lack electricity access, with over 80% of rural populations being affected. He further noted that around a billion Africans do not have access to clean cooking facilities, presenting a considerable challenge that necessitates collaborative efforts across the continent.
Dr. Jinapor urged African nations to enhance their generation capacity, stressing the importance of self-reliance and internal development. He underlined that unreliable or unaffordable electricity hampers industries, slows down businesses, reduces investments, and limits opportunities for young people.
In his keynote address, delivered on behalf of President Mahama, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah called for a transition from fragmented energy markets to a more integrated framework. He encouraged regional leaders to fortify energy economic structures to position Africa as a growth leader. Debrah also advocated for energy to become Africa's most traded commodity, emphasizing the need for rapid economic development and investment to position Africa as a significant growth pole.
Farid Ghezali, Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers' Organisation (APPO), urged Africa to shift from declarations to implementations to achieve viable energy projects. He emphasized the importance of reducing dependency on external financing and called for more African jobs, services, technical providers, and industrial capacity within the energy sector.
The Africa Energy Technology Conference 2026 concludes on Thursday, May 21, 2026.