Ghana’s drive toward a low-carbon economy risks stalling unless greater investment is made in youth-centered policies, skills development, and clean energy innovation, according to new research by the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), a youth-oriented NGO committed to inclusive governance in the natural resource and environmental sectors.
The study reveals that 71% of young Ghanaians are eager to participate in the country’s energy transition agenda, yet remain hindered by limited engagement platforms, policy exclusion, and inadequate financing.
SYND warns that without urgent and intentional efforts to integrate youth voices and talents, Ghana could struggle to attract green investment and meet its Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP) target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
Chibeze Ezekiel, National Coordinator of SYND, noted that youth participation must be seen not just as a development issue but as a core economic opportunity. “Ghana must recognize that youth participation is a cornerstone of a viable clean energy market,” he said.
The report advocates for the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) and other key institutions to deliberately mainstream youth participation in the development, implementation, assessment, and review of national energy policies. These include the National Energy Policy, Renewable Energy Act, Sustainable Energy for All Action Plan, Ghana Integrated Power Sector Master Plan, and other critical frameworks guiding the transition process.
One of the report’s most compelling findings is that 93% of youth expressed interest in launching clean energy startups, but 86% identified lack of funding as their biggest barrier. In response, SYND is calling for the establishment of a Youth Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Fund in collaboration with government, academia, and private sector players to support youth-led innovations, research, training, and capacity building. According to SYND, failing to invest in young innovators could cost the country both in terms of local enterprise development and broader investor confidence.
The report also highlights the importance of aligning education with the clean energy job market. It recommends that government develop a comprehensive clean energy skills development program tailored to industry demands, vocational training, internships, and technical courses in renewable technologies. With 90% of surveyed youth identifying technical know-how as critical to pursuing careers in the clean energy sector, SYND believes bridging the skills gap will not only reduce youth unemployment but also help position Ghana as an attractive destination for green energy investment.
Beyond skills and funding, the study underscores the risks associated with excluding youth—particularly those in host communities where critical green minerals will be extracted. Poorly managed resource development, SYND warns, could lead to inequality, human rights abuses, and social unrest—factors that undermine Ghana’s long-term sustainability goals and deter responsible investment.
The organization therefore calls on policymakers, energy companies, financial institutions, and development partners to adopt an intentional, youth-centered approach to Ghana’s energy transition. “We, as youth, are not just beneficiaries of Ghana’s energy transition, we are also the drivers of change. This is our moment to shape a sustainable, inclusive economy that serves us all,” the report declares.
SYND is confident that Ghana’s example, if executed well, can become a model for other African nations striving to provide clean, affordable energy to the nearly 600 million Africans who still lack access to electricity. The organization insists that empowering young people today is not just about creating a better tomorrow, but about building a thriving energy economy capable of driving Africa’s green industrial revolution.
