Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for an African-led approach to energy transition that prioritizes industrialisation, investment attraction and energy access, arguing that the continent’s economic development goals must remain central to global climate discussions.
According to the Minister, Africa’s energy transition presents a major opportunity to unlock economic growth, create jobs and build competitive industries, provided governments adopt policies that reflect the continent’s unique development realities.
Speaking during a high-level panel discussion on the theme, “What Does a Just Energy Transition Mean for Africa?”, Dr. Jinapor said African countries must pursue a transition pathway that balances environmental sustainability with the urgent need to expand energy access and accelerate industrial transformation.
He noted that while advanced economies have focused largely on reducing carbon emissions, Africa faces a different challenge, providing reliable and affordable electricity to millions of people while supporting economic expansion.
“Africa’s energy transition must be designed around access to energy, industrialisation and sustainability,” he said.
The Minister observed that although Africa contributes only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent remains highly vulnerable to climate-related shocks that threaten agricultural productivity, infrastructure and economic stability.
However, he stressed that energy transition policies should not undermine efforts to address energy poverty, which continues to constrain economic growth across the continent.
Industry estimates indicate that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, limiting business development, manufacturing growth and productivity.
Dr. Jinapor argued that expanding energy access is essential to attracting investment, supporting industrial activity and improving competitiveness across African economies.
He said, reliable power supply remains a critical requirement for manufacturing, mining, agribusiness and other productive sectors that drive employment and economic development.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of creating stable policy environments capable of attracting long-term capital into Africa’s energy sector.
According to him, achieving a successful energy transition will require significant investment in renewable energy projects, transmission infrastructure, energy storage systems and modern electricity networks.
He noted that investors increasingly seek policy certainty, transparent regulatory frameworks and predictable market conditions before committing capital to large-scale energy projects.
“Investment will flow where there is confidence in policy direction and regulatory stability,” he said.
Analysts estimate that Africa will require hundreds of billions of dollars in energy-related investments over the coming decades to meet rising demand while transitioning toward cleaner energy systems. According to the minister, Ghana is positioning itself to attract part of that investment through an ambitious renewable energy programme aimed at diversifying the country’s energy mix and strengthening energy security.
The government is currently implementing a 200-megawatt competitive solar tender programme and plans to increase installed solar generation capacity to 1,000 megawatts over the coming years.
Additional initiatives include the deployment of solar-plus-storage solutions, expansion of home solar systems and the development of solar-powered electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The Minister said these projects are expected to stimulate private sector participation, create employment opportunities and reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Beyond environmental benefits, he noted that renewable energy investments could support local manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and improve the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses through more reliable energy supply.
Dr. Jinapor maintained that Africa should view energy transition as an economic development strategy rather than solely a climate obligation.
He further noted that the continent’s vast renewable energy resources present an opportunity to build new industries, attract global investment and create sustainable jobs for a growing population.
“Africa’s energy transition must deliver cleaner energy, but it must also deliver industrial growth, investment and improved living standards for our people,” he said.
