Stakeholders discuss Ghana's preparedness for energy transition

A review of Ghana's preparedness for energy transition has revealed gaps in policy implementation and highlighted the risk of falling short of set targets.

The study —which recognises that the call for action on energy transition was more eminent now than ever as the adverse impacts of increasing greenhouse gases (GHS) was devastating on the lives of people and biodiversity globally — recommended a just energy transition, emphasising inclusivity and addressing energy poverty.

The comprehensive study was conducted by the Integrated Social Development Agency (ISODEC), a civil society organisation committed to social justice and human rights, in collaboration with Publish What You Pay, a global civil society coalition.

To review the report, a validation workshop, themed: “Ghana’s energy transition strategy, policies, opportunities and challenges”, was held in Accra, which attracted representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations, academia, media and the private sector; they engaged in constructive dialogue to address the challenges and opportunities associated with Ghana's energy transition.

Resources

The Executive Director of ISODEC, Sam Danse, underscored Ghana's rich endowment of natural resources, historically pivotal in driving industrial growth, creating employment opportunities and generating revenue.

However, he acknowledged the environmental and social repercussions of extraction of these minerals on particularly local communities.

Mr Danse emphasised the importance of assessing the sector's impact while striking a balance between economic development and responsible mining practices.

Report

Taking participants through the report on the review of the mineral extraction and energy transition in Ghana, the Policy, Programmes and Projects Coordinator at the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Adam Yakubu, began by addressing the global significance of energy transition, highlighting its emergence during the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

He emphasised the need for countries, including Ghana, to adopt alternative strategies to keep global temperatures below two degrees.

Ghana, he said, was a signatory to various agreements and had made substantial efforts towards energy transition, with over 15 policy documents developed since 2010.

As the world witnesses a paradigm shift from fossil-based systems to renewables, he said Ghana could not afford to lag behind.

However, he said Ghana would need over $500 billion to transition to renewable energy but “we currently do not have the funds to transition even though we have the policies”.

The report recommended incorporation of just transition and energy poverty into policies, frameworks and strategies, striking a balance between leveraging potentials in extractive resources against energy transition commitments and mainstreaming energy transition into the decentralised local government structure.

The Special Advisor to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benjamin Aryee, stressed the need to increase investment in research and development in Ghana’s approach to energy transition to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for its citizens.

A Geologist with the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Seidu Ali, said besides lithium Ghana was endowed with significant reserves of other green minerals crucial for the energy transition such as bauxite, manganese, iron ore among others.

Lead Negotiator for Just Transition and Response Measures in Ghana, Angelina Mensah, called for a consideration of the impact of energy transition on communities, citing threat to livelihoods.

The programme Officer at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Mabel Acquaye, stressed the importance of contextualising the energy transition, particularly in rural areas where fossil fuels were not primary fuel.

She pointed out that discussions often neglected the rural areas where fossil fuels were not a primary energy source and called for a focus on addressing root causes such as deforestation and biomass issues as a crucial step towards achieving net zero emissions.