Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has called for the urgent operationalization of the Africa Energy Bank, framing it as a critical pillar in the continent’s quest for energy independence and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC), Minister Jinapor delivered a firm message: Africa must chart its own path in financing energy infrastructure if it is to unlock its vast natural resources and catalyze industrial transformation.
“To tap the resource potential of Africa, we need capital, we can no longer rely solely on external financing riddled with conditions, distortions and colonial echoes. We must develop our own financial market one that de-risks local projects, backs big-ticket energy infrastructure, and retains value in the continent. The full operationalization of the Africa Energy Bank must be a top priority,” he declared.
Held under the theme “Innovate, Invest, Implement: Revolutionising Financing for Sustainable Energy Growth in Africa,” the AETC 2025 convened key stakeholders, including policymakers, investors, and clean energy innovators, to discuss scalable, Africa-led financing models that would drive the continent’s green energy agenda.
Minister Jinapor emphasized that external sources of energy financing often come with conditions that not only complicate project execution but also erode local value. He argued that a robust African financial institution tailored for energy investments would mitigate risk, enhance project viability, and give African governments and private developers more control over their developmental priorities.
The Africa Energy Bank, first proposed by the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), is envisioned as a continental institution designed to finance both fossil and renewable energy projects in Africa, particularly those overlooked by traditional international financiers due to global energy transition policies.
With Africa facing a dual challenge of expanding access to energy for its rapidly growing population while navigating the global shift toward cleaner sources, experts at the AETC echoed Jinapor’s sentiments that traditional funding pathways are no longer sufficient.
“Without dedicated local financing structures, Africa risks being left behind in the global energy transition. Our ability to innovate and implement sustainable energy solutions must be matched by our ability to invest in them ourselves.” Jinapor warned.
