John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition, has broken ground for a $5 million, 1MW solar power plant at Dawhenya to boost irrigation, rice production, and Ghana’s food security agenda.
The project, funded by the Korean Government under the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Project (WEFP), marks a bold step in linking renewable energy to agriculture.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition (MoEn>) with support from the Korean Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI), the Ministry of Finance, Energy Commission, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA).
Jinapor hailed the initiative as “a foundation for innovation, sustainability, and prosperity for generations,” stressing that it directly tackles the twin challenges of energy transition and food insecurity.
“Without clean, affordable, and reliable energy, irrigation systems cannot function; without water, we cannot grow food; and without food, our people cannot thrive,” he declared.
The 1MW facility will deliver reliable power for irrigation, cut dependence on diesel generators, and enhance rice yields in Dawhenya.
It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Ghana’s climate commitments and create green jobs for young people and women in the agricultural value chain.
Expected to be completed within 12 months, the project includes training for ministry staff in operations and management to ensure long-term sustainability.
The minister lamented Ghana’s over-reliance on rain-fed farming, noting that only three per cent of cultivated land is irrigated despite an irrigation potential of up to 1.9 million hectares.
“South Korea had irrigated over one million hectares as far back as 2009, while Ghana continues to rely largely on rainfall. This must change,” he said.
He linked the project to the fight against food inflation, which has been a major driver of the country’s overall 23.8 per cent inflation in 2024, with sharp price hikes in staples such as rice, yam, and tomato.
Government’s irrigation plan targets bringing more than one million hectares under irrigation in five years, beginning with 400 solar-powered water pumps in 2026, scaling up to 3,500 pumps by 2028 to irrigate about 400,000 hectares.
Kim Hyunjoo, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, said the project connects Ghana’s “Feed Ghana” Programme to Korea’s “K-Rice Belt” initiative, deepening bilateral cooperation.
She praised the collaboration between Ghanaian agencies and Korean partners, including KIAT, KOAMI, KOPIA, and the Korea Rural Community Corporation, describing the venture as “a new chapter in agricultural innovation and diplomacy.”
Kyu Young Hwang, President and CEO of Kunhwa Engineering and Consulting Co. Ltd, said his company was proud to be part of the milestone.
He explained that after overcoming design challenges since 2023, Kunhwa had worked closely with Ghanaian agencies to complete the design phase in 2024, paving the way for construction.
Jinapor urged Dawhenya farmers and residents to protect the facility and reclaim encroached irrigation lands for food production.
He also disclosed that the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance to secure tax exemptions on imported materials and equipment to ease implementation.
“This is not just about electricity. It is about food on the table, jobs for our youth, and climate-smart farming for a resilient future,” he said.
