John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, has underscored the importance of accelerated regional energy integration, noting that West African countries stand to secure better financing terms and stronger bargaining power when they pool their economic strength.
He said that by combining their Gross Domestic Products (GDPs), member states could negotiate from a position of greater collective advantage than acting individually.
His comments follow a landmark trial conducted by the West African Power Pool (WAPP) in November 2025, during which Ghana and Benin’s power systems were synchronised with Nigeria through the Sakete substation in Benin.
The four-hour exercise marked the first time the regional grid had operated as a fully interconnected system, signalling significant progress toward long-anticipated regional power integration.
The test run demonstrated both the technical feasibility and economic potential of deeper power-sector cooperation, reinforcing what can be achieved when countries commit to shared infrastructure and coordinated energy planning.
Efforts to integrate West Africa’s power systems have been ongoing for more than four decades, yielding gradual gains. However, Mr. Jinapor stressed that advancing this cooperation to full energy synchronisation would deliver far-reaching benefits for the region.
He observed that many countries had attempted isolated energy reforms in recent years, often with limited success.
A regional approach, he said, would be vital for the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Single Electricity Market (ASEM).
Reliable and competitively priced electricity, he noted, is essential for expanding cross-border manufacturing, industrialisation and logistics.
The overall success of the regional energy market will also depend heavily on Nigeria, the region’s largest economy and leading gas producer.
A major infrastructure overhaul is currently underway across the sub-region to support future synchronisation efforts, laying the foundation for a more resilient, efficient and integrated West African power market.
