Accra: Dr Senalor K. Yawlui, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, has emphasized the necessity of regional integration and coordinated energy policies as Africa progresses towards clean and sustainable energy solutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Yawlui highlighted the role of the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) in driving this transformation by promoting renewable energy across the continent.
Dr Yawlui delivered these remarks at the Second Africa Renewable Energy Investment and Partnership Forum in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The forum, co-hosted by the Sierra Leonean Government and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), focused on strategies to enhance renewable energy investments and boost green industrialization in Africa. Participants included senior leaders from various African countries, financial institutions, energy sector heads, and development partners.
Ghana, described as the ‘Gateway to West Africa,’ is committed to enhancing regional cooperation in the power sector through frameworks supporting cross-border electricity trade and renewable energy development. Dr Yawlui noted that harmonizing policies and regulations among West African countries is essential for integrating power grids. APRA’s role in facilitating these regulations aims to reduce marketing and transmission costs in cross-border power trade.
Ghana’s integrated power sector framework, which encompasses generation, transmission, and distribution, positions the country as a key partner in advancing regional energy access and security. Furthermore, Ghana is fostering concessionary financing arrangements, technology transfer, and capacity building to create an environment conducive to green energy investment. The National Framework for Energy Transition (2022-2070) offers long-term policy guidance to achieve a full green energy transition by 2070.
The Renewable Energy Master Plan aims to generate 10% of Ghana’s national energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, leveraging solar, wind, and biomass projects. Ghana is actively seeking private and development funding for these ventures through government-backed programs. Dr Yawlui emphasized Ghana’s stable democracy and consistent policy landscape as key factors providing long-term security for investments.
In addition to renewable energy, Ghana invests in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and is developing a local policy framework to support electric mobility manufacturing. These efforts align with Ghana’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its clean energy policy, ensuring an inclusive, balanced, and sustainable energy transition. Dr Yawlui highlighted that these systemic reforms aim to boost industrial competitiveness and create decent green jobs.
Dr Yawlui concluded that APRA’s partnership model aligns perfectly with Ghana’s development agenda and the regional vision for an integrated, low-carbon power system. He expressed optimism that APRA could help Africa achieve a new level of energy cooperation, supporting both national growth and regional prosperity.