Ghana’s renewable energy ambitions hit a turning point with the commissioning of Africa’s largest single rooftop solar project powering industries in Tema with clean, reliable electricity and a model the government wants to replicate nationwide.
Built by LMI Holdings in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the 16.82MW rooftop solar plant is already transforming energy supply within Ghana’s top performing industrial enclave.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets.
Commissioned in July 2024, the project is being celebrated not just for its scale but for its business logic, delivering cheaper energy, eliminating commercial losses, and offering a sustainable alternative to Ghana’s heavy fossil fuel dependence.
Speaking during a site visit, Ghana’s Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, expressed strong admiration for the project and hinted that it could serve as a model for future renewable initiatives.
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“I’m tempted to believe that there’s high value for money here,” he said. “I’ve inherited some solar projects whose cost frightens me, so I’m looking for competitive ways to get the best prices and this project gives us something to learn from.”
The Minister stressed the importance of replicating LMI’s model in other parts of the country to reduce power losses and support sustainable energy financing.
“Your commercial losses are virtually zero, while ours at the national level are nearing 40 percent. That’s a huge problem. I’m not saying I’m handing over Tema, but can we replicate this model across the city to deal with those losses?” he asked.
He revealed that the government was working closely with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on two fronts: improving the Private Sector Participation (PSP) program in electricity distribution and developing a second gas processing plant.
“We want to get the distribution sector right, because if you don’t, the whole value chain collapses,” he said. “And IFC has the capacity and experience to help us shape these projects efficiently and transparently.”
Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Administrative Officer, Wencai Zhang described the rooftop plant as a “flagship example” of sustainable infrastructure and reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s energy and industrial transformation.
“This rooftop project will reduce energy costs, enhance competitiveness, and significantly cut carbon emissions,” Mr. Zhang noted. “it demonstrates how strong partnerships can deliver results aligned with Ghana’s industrialization goals.”
LMI Holdings’ Managing Director, Adlai Opoku Boamah, underscored the project’s strategic value, revealing that it supports the green transition of export-oriented companies in the enclave. He also announced a $100 million investment from the IFC to scale renewable capacity, with a 100MW project already underway in Dawa and plans to hit 1,000MW by 2030.
The Energy Minister also announced new government initiatives including the establishment of a Renewable Energy Authority and the launch of a Renewable Energy Investment Fund, which redirects a portion of fossil fuel revenue into solar and green energy projects.
“We’re also planning to roll out solar-powered streetlights to reduce power consumption at night, lower ECG’s costs, and flatten the peak load,” he added.
In water infrastructure, LMI is nearing completion of Ghana’s first commercial-scale utility water treatment plant in Dawa, tapping water from the Volta River to serve industrial clients. The move aims to resolve persistent water shortages along the Tema-Dawa corridor.
Mr. Jinapor, who postponed an official trip to attend the event, pledged the government’s commitment to private sector partnerships.
“Government alone cannot meet our energy needs. We must leverage the private sector,” he said. “And what gladdens me is that you don’t come demanding capacity charges, this is the model we want.”
The commissioning of the rooftop plant marks not only a technological leap for Ghana’s industrial power landscape but also a shift in how public-private partnerships can drive green growth.
