President Akufo-Addo says his government is committed to providing electricity access to all households in Ghana by the end of 2024.
His assurance comes as over two hundred communities have been connected to the national grid, pushing the country’s current electricity access rate to 88.85%.
To attain its aim of universal electric accessibility, the government is hoping to connect an additional four hundred (400) communities to the national grid under the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) and other Turnkey Projects.
In his address to Parliament, the President noted that: “…I am happy to report that we are making admirable progress in the provision of electricity to all parts of the country," he said.
The government is also seeking to improve power system reliability in both the middle and northern parts of Ghana following the relocation of the 250MW Ameri Plant from Aboadze to Anwomaso in Kumasi.
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has also relocated six units of the plant with 150MW capacity, currently under testing and to be commissioned in Kumasi.
“the Authority is taking steps to relocate the remaining four (4) units before the end of the year,” the President added.
Renewable Energy
Ghana is expected to transition 10% of its energy generation mix to renewable energy components by the end of 2030.
President Akufo-Addo revealed 3.2% of the country’s energy mix is presently sourced from solar energy as a solar Photovoltaic panel has been constructed on the Bui Reservoir and Kaleo.
“…we are also making steady progress in our commitment to increase the component of renewable energy to our energy generation mix.
A four-megawatt floating solar PV on the Bui Reservoir, as well as the fifteen megawatt (15MW) solar PV at Kaleo, have been completed and are both operational,” he said.
He further added that: “a one hundred megawatt (100MW) solar PV under is under construction at Bui, as is the Mini-grid Electrification Programme ongoing in the Ada East District”.
Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purpose
Ghana is envisaging to have 30% of its electricity production generated from nuclear energy by 2070.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated assurances of establishing nuclear energy plant which would pose no deleterious and dangers to the country.
The project is the core mandate of the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) which is an entity under the Office of the President..
“As I indicated at the US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit and the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Co-operation (IFNEC) Ministerial Conference, held in Accra in November last year, the first of its kind in Africa, our energy transition plan envisages thirty percent (30%) of our electricity production to be from nuclear energy by 2070,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo says projects in the energy sector are geared towards the provision of clean and affordable electricity to drive the nation’s industralisation agenda.
“It is also meant to position Ghana as a net power exporter in the ECOWAS region through the West African Power Pool,” he said.