Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has urged African nations to pursue an energy transition that does not compromise development needs, even as Ghana ramps up its investment in oil, gas, and renewable energy.
Speaking at the opening of the 31st Africa Oil Week — hosted in Accra for the first time after three decades in Cape Town — Mr. Jinapor highlighted Ghana’s unique approach: combining upstream petroleum investments with ambitious renewable energy targets.
While announcing new upstream deals worth US$3.5 billion, the Minister was quick to stress that Ghana’s long-term strategy is focused on building a sustainable energy future. He pointed to the government’s Gas-to-Power programme, which channels domestic natural gas into electricity generation, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Equally significant, he reaffirmed Ghana’s renewable energy agenda, noting that the country is on course to achieve 35% of its power generation from renewables by year’s end. This, he said, is part of President Mahama’s expanded mandate for the Ministry of Energy — now rebranded as the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
“Africa must transition responsibly. With 600 million people still without access to electricity, the shift to renewables cannot come at the cost of poverty reduction or human dignity,” Mr. Jinapor cautioned.
The Minister argued that Ghana’s dual-track strategy — harnessing oil and gas revenues while scaling up renewable energy — provides a model for other African countries navigating the global transition.
He concluded with a challenge to industry leaders: “Let us go with a binding commitment to act, create, and combine our intelligence to secure an energy future that is prosperous, sustainable, and distinctly African.”
