In 2023, fossil fuels supplied about 61% of Ghana’s electricity consumption, with gas alone accounting for almost 60%. Low-carbon electricity provided the remaining 39%, almost entirely from hydropower, which contributed about 38% of the total. Other clean sources supplied less than 1%, highlighting the opportunity to diversify Ghana’s low-carbon electricity supply.

Is Electricity Growing in Ghana?

Electricity consumption per person is growing, although only modestly: it reached a new record of 719 kWh in 2023, up from about 700 kWh in 2022—an increase of roughly 3%. This is welcome progress as electrification and growing digital services increase electricity needs. However, low-carbon electricity generation per person was just 277 kWh, well below its historic peak of 444 kWh in 1980. That shortfall of 167 kWh, or nearly 38%, is concerning: Ghana needs faster clean electricity growth alongside rising overall consumption.

Suggestions

Ghana can expand low-carbon electricity by developing solar power alongside its existing hydropower and preparing for nuclear generation. Relevant African examples include Namibia, where solar supplies about 11% of electricity, and Cape Verde, where solar and wind each contribute about 14%. These places offer useful lessons for diversifying clean electricity supply, while Morocco’s roughly 20% wind share provides another regional reference. For nuclear development, Ghana could study the United Arab Emirates, which generates about 20% of its electricity from nuclear, and France, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds. Investment in electricity networks, workforce training and long-term planning would help Ghana translate these examples into sustained clean electricity growth and reduce fossil-fuel-related air pollution and climate emissions.

History

Ghana’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by substantial swings in hydropower. Generation fell by a combined 3.1 TWh in 1983–1984, before recovering by 2.6 TWh in 1985–1986. Modest gains in 1990 and 1996 preceded a sharp 3 TWh decline in 1998, followed by a combined 2.7 TWh recovery in 1999–2000. The 2000s brought further reversals: declines totaling 2.8 TWh in 2002–2003, a 1.4 TWh rebound in 2004, and another 1.9 TWh drop in 2007 before gains totaling 3.2 TWh in 2008–2009. A modest increase in 2011 was followed by a troubling 2.5 TWh decline in 2015. More recently, growth returned, with increases of 1.2 TWh in 2019, 0.7 TWh in 2022 and 1 TWh in 2023—encouraging progress that Ghana can reinforce by expanding solar and developing nuclear electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade