Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for stronger international partnerships and increased financing to drive Africa’s transition to clean energy, as he addressed delegates at the Seventh Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee for Africa in Accra on Wednesday.
Speaking to representatives from over 40 African countries and global partners, Hon. Ablakwa stressed that sustainable economic growth on the continent must be built on a foundation of reliable and renewable energy.
“With the right collaborations, we can surpass Africa’s current 2% share of global clean energy investment. Ghana is ready to lead by example,” – he said.
The high-level meeting, hosted by Ghana and co-chaired by Energy Minister Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, focused on translating Africa’s vast solar potential into real-world projects.
Hon. Jinapor highlighted the urgency of the challenge: “Africa represents 17% of the world’s population, yet consumes just 4% of the world’s energy. Bridging this gap is our collective opportunity: transforming pipeline projects into bankable ones, providing low-risk premiums, and attracting greater private capital”.
Key announcements included new Country Partnership Frameworks with Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia, as well as the launch of the Africa Solar Facility—an initiative expected to leverage over $4 billion in private investment through catalytic finance.
The Director General of ISA, Ashish Khanna, underscored the need for local solutions and stronger institutional capacity, while international partners from France and India reaffirmed their support for Africa’s energy ambitions.
With nearly 600 million Africans still lacking electricity, speakers agreed that the time for action is now.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
