Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has been named Patron of the 2025 West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (WAECS), set to take place in Accra from December 2–3, 2025.
The high-level event will convene ministers, investors, and energy sector leaders to accelerate regional collaboration, financing, and investment in sustainable power systems across West Africa.
The summit, themed “Building Regional Resilience,” aims to position West Africa at the forefront of the continent’s clean energy transition while strengthening Ghana’s ambition to become a regional energy distribution hub. This year’s edition is being supported by the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) as Lead Sponsor, with Endeavour Energy and Denham Capital joining as sponsors.
ATIDI’s involvement highlights growing investor confidence in West Africa’s renewable energy landscape. “ATIDI is strengthening its footprint in Africa by supporting investments that not only advance energy access but also drive economic growth,” said Aliyu Alhassan Yahaya, RLSF Underwriter at ATIDI. He explained that the organisation’s Regional Liquidity Support Facility (RLSF) provides crucial blended finance guarantees to Independent Power Producers to mitigate payment risks. “Recent projects supported, such as the 42MW Sokodé solar PV plant in Togo, highlight ATIDI’s role in fostering clean energy and increased investor confidence in the region,” Yahaya added.
The summit’s agenda will focus on financing and de-risking clean energy projects, advancing regional power trade and transmission infrastructure, and deepening private sector participation in off-grid and distributed energy systems. Delegates will also examine how innovation and digitalisation can improve energy efficiency and access for communities across both urban and rural West Africa.
Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, which charts a path to net-zero emissions by 2070, will feature prominently in the discussions. The framework emphasises cleaner generation, efficiency, and renewable expansion, particularly in solar, while promoting natural gas as a transitional fuel. Officials say the country’s goal is to build a resilient, competitive, and sustainable energy sector that supports inclusive growth and industrialisation similar to Southern Africa’s model.
Among the high-level participants confirmed for WAECS 2025 are Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Vice President of Liberia; John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition; Dr. Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister for Solid Minerals Development; Nani Juwara, Gambia’s Minister for Petroleum, Energy and Mines; and Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources. Senior utility and regulatory leaders from Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and other ECOWAS states will also take part, alongside private sector partners including Gridworks Partners, Wärtsilä, Stanbic Bank Ghana, SEforALL, and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
Mr Jinapor expressed optimism about Ghana’s hosting of the event, noting its alignment with the country’s broader energy and youth development priorities. “Ghana is committed to regional energy cooperation, sustainable development, and a just energy transition, so we are honoured to host the West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit,” he said.
He added that Ghana will also host YES! On The Road Ghana from 3–4 December, a youth-focused initiative designed to empower young professionals in Africa’s energy sector. “This initiative aligns with Ghana’s focus on youth empowerment and skills development under the Energy Transition Framework. It will inspire and equip the next generation of African energy leaders by connecting young talents with experienced mentors, innovators, and investors,” Mr Jinapor stated.
The WAECS 2025 is expected to serve as a key platform for shaping Africa’s collective clean energy future, bridging the gap between public policy, investment, and innovation to drive the continent’s energy transformation.