Tema: The AbibiNsroma Foundation has highlighted Ghana’s energy transition as a pivotal opportunity to restructure energy governance towards greater equity, inclusion, and sustainability. The foundation emphasizes the importance of locally grounded, participatory models for climate action, as supported by global institutions like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the African Union.
According to Ghana News Agency, the foundation criticized Ghana’s current centralized and investor-focused approach, which often sidelines traditional authorities and rural communities. These groups hold significant ecological knowledge and bear the brunt of energy poverty and climate vulnerability. Mr. Bob T. K. Amiteye, Convener of the Civil Society Organisation, expressed these concerns during a presentation on sea erosion in Tema Manhean, Greater Accra Region, noting the detrimental impact of excluding traditional leaders and communities from climate-related activities.
Mr. Amiteye advocates for community-led energy governance structures as a transformative solution. These would enable inclusive decision-making, equitable project benefit allocation, and enhanced accountability through citizen-based monitoring and localized oversight. Given Ghana’s challenges, such as insecure land tenure and regional energy disparities, these frameworks are deemed essential.
The CSO urges the integration of traditional leaders and community structures into national energy planning through legal recognition, targeted funding, and technical support. Institutionalizing these models could help Ghana meet its climate and energy commitments, fostering a transition that accelerates the shift to renewables, deepens democratic participation, and builds resilience.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, over 600 million people lack electricity, with fossil fuel dependence shaping national energy agendas. Despite Ghana’s energy sector being among the most developed in West Africa, significant disparities remain, with around 15% of rural populations lacking grid access and fragile grid reliability in peri-urban and agricultural regions.
While Ghana’s renewable energy policies focus on scaling generation capacity, they offer limited space for community leadership. In mining-affected zones, land-use competition exacerbates tensions. Communities often lack legal mechanisms, technical resources, or political leverage to influence energy decisions impacting their land, livelihoods, and health.
Mr. Amiteye noted that recent renewable projects in the Northern and Volta regions have faced local tensions due to limited community engagement. Mini-grid and off-grid projects show promise but risk stagnation without stronger community co-ownership mechanisms. Research from the University of Energy and Natural Resources indicates that over 40% of off-grid projects in Ghana face sustainability challenges within five years, highlighting governance as a core issue.
The Abibiman Foundation asserts that for a just transition to deliver economic diversification, energy democracy, and social equity, Ghana must view communities as active stewards of energy infrastructure and investment decisions, not just passive beneficiaries.