In 2023, fossil fuels supplied more than three-fifths of Ghana’s electricity consumption, at about 61%, with gas alone accounting for nearly 60%. Low-carbon sources supplied the remaining 39%, almost entirely from hydropower, which contributed about 38% of electricity. Other clean sources therefore played only a small role. Expanding low-carbon electricity would help Ghana reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and the associated climate emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Ghana?

Electricity consumption per person is growing, although modestly: Ghana reached a new record of 719 kWh per person in 2023, compared with about 700 kWh in 2022—an increase of roughly 3%. Clean electricity has not kept pace with its historical peak, however. Low-carbon generation stood at 277 kWh per person, around 167 kWh, or 38%, below the record of 444 kWh set in 1980. The new consumption record is encouraging, but the substantial shortfall in clean generation per person underscores the need for faster expansion to support electrification and future electricity demand.

Suggestions

Ghana can increase clean electricity generation by expanding solar alongside its existing hydropower and developing nuclear electricity. Relevant African examples include Namibia, where solar supplies about 11% of electricity, and Cape Verde, where solar and wind each contribute about 14%. These offer useful lessons for developing solar projects and identifying productive wind locations. Ghana can also learn from Pakistan, which generates about 24% of its electricity from solar and 13% from nuclear. For a larger-scale nuclear example, France generates roughly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power. Ghana should draw on these experiences to strengthen project delivery, financing, grid infrastructure and workforce training, building a broader low-carbon electricity supply.

History

Ghana’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by fluctuations in hydropower. Generation fell by a combined 3.1 TWh in 1983–1984, before recovering by 2.6 TWh in 1985–1986. Gains of 0.5 TWh in both 1990 and 1996 preceded a sharp 3 TWh decline in 1998, followed by a combined recovery of 2.7 TWh in 1999–2000. The 2000s brought further setbacks in 2002–2003 and 2007, interspersed with gains in 2004 and a strong recovery in 2008–2009. After an increase in 2011, generation fell by 2.5 TWh in 2015, while later gains included 1.2 TWh in 2019, 0.7 TWh in 2022 and 1 TWh in 2023. Those recent increases are welcome, and sustained additions from solar and nuclear could help Ghana achieve stronger long-term growth in clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade