Ghana Pledges Universal Electricity Access by 2030
Ghana has joined 16 other African nations in endorsing National Energy Compacts under the World Bank and African Development Bank-led Mission 300 initiative, pledging to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. President John Mahama emphasized the importance of energy in Ghana's development goals, stating that universal energy access is key to empowering businesses, reducing poverty, and creating equal opportunities.
Speaking at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, Mahama highlighted the need for strong government-private sector partnerships, supported by an enabling environment for sustainable investment, to achieve this goal. Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, with 30 million people already gaining access since its launch and another 100 million connections in the pipeline.
The Energy Compacts provide practical blueprints for investment, reform, and policy innovation. African Development Bank President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah noted that reliable, affordable power is the fastest multiplier for small and medium enterprises, agro-processing, digital work, and industrial value-addition, saying, "Give a young entrepreneur power, and you've given them a paycheck."
Ghana's commitment mirrors a wave of ambitious pledges across the continent. Other countries that have made bold commitments include Sierra Leone, which described their compact as "the most ambitious energy infrastructure initiative ever developed" for the country. Kenya's clean power access is a cornerstone of President William Ruto's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Mozambique aims to position itself as a regional energy powerhouse, while Botswana seeks to ensure "accessible, reliable, and affordable energy as a basic human need" to drive job creation and economic transformation.
Cameroon promised reforms to promote renewable energy and build a low-carbon future. The Republic of Congo highlighted its vast hydro potential of 27,000 MW, which could achieve universal access and export surplus power to cover more than one-third of Africa's electricity needs.
World Bank President Ajay Banga framed Mission 300 as a historic opportunity, stating that electricity is the bedrock of jobs, opportunity, and economic growth. The initiative is expected to forge enduring reforms that slash costs, strengthen utilities, and draw in private investment.
Source – Lead News Online
