In 2023, fossil fuels supplied more than three-fifths of Ghana’s electricity consumption, at about 61%, with gas alone accounting for almost 60%. Low-carbon electricity supplied the remaining 39%, almost entirely from hydropower, which contributed about 38% of the total. Other clean electricity sources therefore accounted for less than 1%. Ghana has a substantial low-carbon foundation, but fossil fuels still dominate its electricity supply, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Ghana?

Electricity consumption per person in Ghana is growing: it reached 719 kWh in 2023, exceeding the previous record of about 700 kWh in 2022 by roughly 3%. This is welcome progress as electrification and new industries increase electricity demand. However, low-carbon electricity generation per person remains far below its historical peak. At 277 kWh in 2023, it was 167 kWh, or about 38%, below the record of 444 kWh set in 1980. Total electricity consumption reaching a new high is encouraging, but the shortfall in clean generation per person shows why faster low-carbon expansion is needed.

Suggestions

Ghana can build on its hydropower foundation by expanding solar electricity and developing nuclear power, alongside wind where local conditions are suitable. Relevant African examples include Namibia, where solar supplies about 11% of electricity, and Cape Verde, where solar and wind each contribute about 14%. Kenya also demonstrates wind’s potential, generating about 12% of its electricity from wind. For solar expansion at a larger scale, Ghana can learn from Pakistan, where solar supplies almost a quarter of electricity. Pakistan also generates about 13% from nuclear, illustrating how the two clean sources can contribute together. France, with roughly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear, offers lessons in building a substantial nuclear fleet. Ghana should pair these ambitions with grid investment, workforce training and long-term planning to increase clean electricity supply.

History

Ghana’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is largely a story of fluctuating hydropower generation. Sharp losses in 1983–1984 totalled about 3 TWh, followed by a recovery of roughly 2.6 TWh in 1985–1986. Modest gains in 1990 and 1996 preceded a 3 TWh drop in 1998, with most of that loss recovered in 1999–2000. The 2000s brought further setbacks in 2002–2003 and 2007, interspersed with strong recoveries in 2004 and 2008–2009. After a modest gain in 2011, generation fell by 2.5 TWh in 2015, a disappointing reversal. Subsequent increases included 1.2 TWh in 2019, 0.7 TWh in 2022 and 1 TWh in 2023. These recent gains are encouraging, and adding substantial solar and nuclear generation would help Ghana broaden its clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade