Ghana’s strides in expanding access to clean and affordable energy took center stage at the 2025 Paris Peace Forum, where Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa shared the country’s remarkable progress in tackling energy poverty through innovative partnerships and home-grown solutions.
Speaking at the forum, the North Tongu legislator highlighted how Ghana’s collaboration with international partners such as the Global Energy Alliance, Solar Alliance, and Better Planet Initiative has positioned the nation as a continental leader in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
According to Mr. Ablakwa, Ghana’s electricity coverage now stands at an impressive 89.03 percent — with 98 percent access in urban areas and 77 percent in rural communities. This milestone, he noted, reflects the country’s commitment to universal energy access by 2030.
“It is unacceptable that 85 percent of the world’s estimated 645 million people without electricity live in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he emphasized, drawing comparisons with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where only 21 percent of the national population—and a mere 2 percent of rural dwellers—have electricity despite vast energy resources.
Mr. Ablakwa reaffirmed Ghana’s goal of achieving 100 percent electricity coverage by 2030, alongside increasing its renewable energy capacity from 4 percent to 10 percent within the same period. He added that the government’s ongoing distribution of one million clean cookstoves forms part of a broader agenda to promote sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.
“The Mahama administration believes that keeping the lights on and ensuring every part of Ghana has access to clean, affordable, and sustainable energy is not just a development target—it is a matter of human dignity and a catalyst for economic transformation and job creation,” he stated.
Ghana’s performance at the forum has been widely commended as a model for other African nations seeking to balance development with sustainability, proving that local innovation combined with strategic partnerships can drive lasting change.
