Ghana ready to be the energy hub of West Africa – Dr. Opoku Prempeh

Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh says Ghana is ready to become the energy hub of the West African sub-region by leading the agenda for providing reliable and sustainable energy to stimulate socio-economic growth.

He made this known while speaking at North Africa and Europe Energy Exhibition and Conference (NAEPEC) still underway in Barcelona, Spain.

Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh said to achieve the vision of becoming the energy hub of the West African sub-region, the government has developed policies and strategies to ensure the smooth operations of the sector.

The Minister indicated further that the global energy transition presents Ghana and probably the entire globe, with an opportunity to improve on our existing policies and initiatives to foster the development of all sectors of our economies through the provision of affordable and reliable energy and importantly, improve on even the quality of the air we breathe.

Read his statement below:

On Monday, 13th March 2023, I asked investors and global energy decision-makers gathered at this year’s North Africa and Europe Energy Exhibition and Conference (NAEPEC) still underway in Barcelona, Spain, to explore the several opportunities in Ghana’s energy sector for the mutual benefit of both Ghana and the investors.

Speaking on the topic: “Ghana’s current Energy Sector initiatives, the global energy transition, and opportunities available in Ghana’s near–term initiatives and projects”, the very first keynote speech of the conference, I indicated clearly, that Ghana stands as a beacon for the African continent with energy access of 88.75% and is ready to become the energy hub of the West African sub-region through leading the agenda for providing reliable and sustainable energy to stimulate socio-economic growth. This, I said, has made government develop policies and strategies to ensure the smooth operations of the sector.

I further rehashed that, the global energy transition presents Ghana and probably the entire globe, with an opportunity to improve on our existing policies and initiatives to foster the development of all sectors of our economies through the provision of affordable and reliable energy and importantly, improve on even the quality of the air we breathe.

Indeed, I also said that Ghana’s US$562.00 billion Energy Transition Framework aims to provide the optimal and sustainable pathway for fuel supply security, diversified energy mix and cost-efficient electricity generation with an estimated medium to long term average electricity generation tariff of US$4.5cents/kWh to accelerate the socio-economic development of Ghana

I told the gathering that, Ghana is endowed with critical metals such as lithium, manganese, iron ore, among others, which are essential for the manufacturing of clean energy technologies such as lithium-ion batteries for both power and e-mobility sectors. Ghana and the world as a whole, I said, must leverage on these resources to develop the needed green infrastructure and technologies through value creation along the entire mineral value chain.

As we continue to project Ghana positively on the international front, in the context of our abundant natural resources, strong democratic credentials, tested Constitution and thriving independent media landscape, backed by a sound legal and regulatory framework of the energy sector, I am optimistic that our engagements here will yield the needed results for the shared prosperity of our Ghanaians.