Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat is projecting the creation of more than 160,000 direct and indirect jobs following a new renewable energy partnership aimed at supporting round-the-clock economic activity.
The job creation plan follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Secretariat and ATRI Energy Transition Private Limited, an India-based firm specialising in renewable energy and mobility solutions.
The agreement, signed in Accra, forms part of efforts to deepen private sector participation in the government’s proposed 24-hour economy programme.
Mr Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the initiative, said the projected jobs would come from several large-scale projects planned under the partnership.
He explained that the initiatives would include the development of about 40,000 hectares of grass plantations, establishment of solar parks, creation of agro-ecological zones and other value chain activities linked to energy and transport infrastructure.
According to him, the agreement represents the first in a series of joint development arrangements expected to deliver up to 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy into Ghana’s national grid over the next five years.
Mr Tanoh said the projects would focus on solar generation, battery energy storage systems and biomass-to-power ventures to support reliable and affordable energy supply.
“These initiatives are targeting structured, affordable and sustainable power for the multi-economic corridor under the 24-hour economy programme,” he said.
He noted that the programme had set cost limits for electricity generation to ensure affordability for businesses operating within the 24-hour economic framework.
“Our tariff regime mandates that if the system includes battery storage, we cap the cost at seven cents per kilowatt hour. Without storage, we aim to keep the cost within four to five cents, which is significantly lower than the current average of about 15 cents,” he said.
Mr Tanoh added that the programme would also contribute to Ghana’s long-term energy self-sufficiency as electricity demand continues to grow.
He attributed rising peak demand partly to increasing electric vehicle charging activities and the rapid expansion of data centres.
To support the integration of the additional renewable energy capacity into the national power system, the Secretariat is working closely with key sector institutions including the Ministry of Energy, Ghana Grid Company, Volta River Authority, Northern Electricity Distribution Company, Electricity Company of Ghana and the Energy Commission.
The projects will be implemented through a special purpose vehicle known as PAX Energy, which will be jointly owned by the Secretariat and its partners, with additional private sector investment expected from ATRI and other investors.
Mr Tanoh emphasised that technology transfer would be a key component of the collaboration, with ATRI expected to license its proprietary innovations to the Ghanaian entity responsible for implementing the projects.
He said the Secretariat would also collaborate with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to ensure that new technologies introduced under the partnership are adapted and developed locally.
Mr Sammidi Kishore, Founder of ATRI Energy Transition Private Limited, expressed confidence in the partnership, describing it as an opportunity to provide practical energy solutions while creating employment.
He said the company intended to deploy its expertise across three key areas: biofuel production, battery energy storage and mobility solutions.
As part of the initial phase of the project, ATRI plans to establish a 20-tonne-per-day biofuel plant, develop a 100-megawatt solar installation and roll out mobility initiatives including the conversion or deployment of between 500 and 1,000 electric buses within the next 24 months.
Mr Kishore said the partnership also offered an opportunity to harness the agricultural and hydrological potential along the Volta basin to support industrial-scale biofuel production.
He added that combining solar power generation with energy storage systems could help provide reliable electricity supply, particularly in rural areas.
Officials believe the agreement could help catalyse additional private sector investments in Ghana’s renewable energy sector while supporting the broader goal of building a competitive and low-cost energy ecosystem capable of sustaining continuous industrial activity under the 24-hour economy programme.
