Jinapor: Africa Must Move Beyond Energy Access to Power Industrialisation

Africa's energy challenge is no longer just about connecting more homes and communities to electricity.

The bigger question is whether the power being produced is reliable, affordable and strong enough to drive factories, businesses, mines, technology companies and other productive sectors.

That was a central message from Ghana's Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, at the Future of Energy Conference (FEC) 2026 in Accra.

The two-day conference, organised by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), is being held under the theme “Powering Africa's Industrial Transformation: Energy Systems for Value Addition and Competitiveness.”

For Dr Jinapor, Africa's energy future must go beyond measuring how many people have access to electricity.

The real test, he argued, is whether the continent can build energy systems capable of supporting industrial production, creating jobs, adding value to natural resources and making African businesses competitive.

Access is important, but reliability matters too

Ghana has made considerable progress in expanding electricity access.

The country is now approaching 90 per cent electricity access and has recently connected additional communities to the national grid, with government targeting universal access by 2030.

But increased access alone does not automatically translate into industrial growth.

A business that depends on electricity needs to know that the power will be available when it is required.

A manufacturer needs predictable electricity costs when calculating production expenses.

A mine needs dependable power to maintain operations.

Data centres and digital businesses require even greater reliability because interruptions can result in significant losses.

This is why the quality and cost of electricity are becoming just as important as access itself.

“You cannot industrialise without energy”

Dr Jinapor's central argument was straightforward: industrialisation requires energy at scale.

African countries may have abundant natural resources, growing populations and expanding markets, but those advantages cannot be fully converted into economic value without dependable energy.

Manufacturing requires electricity.

Processing agricultural products requires electricity.

Mining and mineral processing require electricity.

Modern agriculture increasingly depends on electricity.

Digital infrastructure and data centres require stable power.

Without sufficient and dependable energy, efforts to move African economies from the export of raw materials to domestic processing will remain difficult.

Ghana must plan for tomorrow's demand

The Energy Minister also stressed the importance of planning ahead.

Ghana's electricity consumption continues to grow, and future demand is expected to come from several areas of the economy.

Manufacturing, mining, data centres, electric vehicles, businesses and modern agricultural systems are all likely to require additional electricity.

That means Ghana cannot wait for demand to rise before expanding its energy infrastructure.

Generation capacity must grow alongside transmission and distribution networks.

Energy storage will also become increasingly important as the country expands renewable energy.

The objective is to make sure that new economic activity does not put excessive pressure on an already stretched electricity system.

The financial side of Ghana's power sector

Building a stronger electricity system will require significant investment.

But investment alone will not solve Ghana's energy problems if the financial structure of the sector remains weak.

The electricity value chain involves generation, fuel supply, transmission, distribution and revenue collection.

Problems in one part of that chain can eventually affect the entire system.

This makes financial sustainability a critical part of Ghana's energy strategy.

The country needs a power sector that can attract investment, maintain infrastructure, pay its obligations and continue expanding without repeatedly placing unsustainable pressure on public finances.

Ghana's power sector has faced major controversies in the past, including questions surrounding major power projects and their financing.

One example is the ongoing attention around the Asante Berko power-plant bribery case, which has renewed questions about transparency and accountability in major energy deals.

The lesson is not simply about one controversial project.

It highlights why transparency, accountability and value for money must remain central to future energy investments.

Value for money cannot be overlooked

Large energy projects can require substantial amounts of public and private capital.

For that reason, Ghana needs to ensure that investments deliver measurable economic benefits.

Procurement must be transparent.

Contracts must be properly assessed.

Infrastructure must be maintained.

And projects must be evaluated not only on their initial cost but also on their long-term economic value.

A power project that looks affordable at the beginning but becomes expensive to operate can eventually create additional pressure on consumers and government finances.

The broader objective should therefore be to build an electricity system that is both technically reliable and financially sustainable.

Energy should support value addition

One of the biggest opportunities for Africa is the ability to process more of its own natural resources.

The continent exports huge quantities of minerals and agricultural commodities but often captures only a limited share of the value created further along the production chain.

Energy can change that equation.

Reliable power can support mineral processing, agro-processing, manufacturing and other industries that create additional economic value before products leave African markets.

For Ghana, this is particularly important as the country seeks to expand local processing and create more jobs.

The success of such efforts will depend partly on whether industries can access electricity at a cost that allows them to compete.

Ghana's wider economic recovery matters

Energy investment does not happen in isolation.

Businesses make long-term decisions based on inflation, exchange rates, interest rates, access to finance and overall economic stability.

Ghana's recent improvement in some macroeconomic indicators could therefore create a more favourable environment for investment if the progress is sustained.

Global Pulse GH recently examined the wider economic picture in “Ghana's Economic Recovery: What Falling Inflation and a Stronger Cedi Mean for You.”

For the energy sector, macroeconomic stability matters because major infrastructure projects require long-term financing.

A more stable economic environment can improve planning for both government and private investors.

Inflation and energy costs are connected

Electricity prices also have wider implications for the economy.

When businesses face high energy costs, those expenses can eventually influence the price of goods and services.

Manufacturers may have to increase prices.

Transport and logistics companies may face higher operating expenses.

Small businesses may struggle to absorb increased electricity bills.

That makes energy policy an important part of the broader cost-of-living and economic competitiveness conversation.

Ghana's recent inflation decline provides some positive news on the macroeconomic front.

Global Pulse GH recently reported that Ghana's annual inflation rate fell to 4.6 per cent in July 2026 from 5.3 per cent in June.

However, lower inflation does not automatically mean electricity and other household expenses become cheaper.

The bigger goal is to create an environment where prices, production costs and investment conditions become more predictable over time.

Electric vehicles bring a new challenge

Another emerging issue discussed at the conference is the rapid adoption of electric vehicles in Ghana.

Electric vehicles can reduce dependence on petroleum products and lower fuel costs for users.

But they also create new electricity demand.

Fast-charging stations can consume significant amounts of electricity within short periods.

If charging infrastructure expands without proper planning, local transformers and distribution networks could come under pressure.

Dr Jinapor said government is therefore working on measures to regulate and standardise electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The approach is intended to ensure that the electricity network is strengthened before large charging facilities are connected.

That is another example of why Ghana must plan for future energy demand rather than simply responding after problems emerge.

Regional energy cooperation

Africa's energy challenge cannot be solved entirely within national borders.

Regional electricity cooperation can allow countries to share available resources, improve reliability and make better use of generation capacity.

For West Africa, stronger regional energy integration could create opportunities for electricity trade and help countries respond more effectively to changes in supply and demand.

It could also reduce the need for every country to build excess generation capacity independently.

Regional cooperation, however, requires strong institutions, reliable transmission infrastructure and clear commercial arrangements.

The industrialisation test

The discussion at FEC 2026 ultimately brings the energy debate back to one central question:

What is the purpose of expanding electricity supply if it cannot support economic transformation?

For Africa, the answer should be clear.

Energy must help create industries.

It must support jobs.

It must enable local processing.

It must make African businesses more competitive.

And it must help countries capture more value from the resources they already possess.

For Ghana, that means continuing to expand access while simultaneously improving reliability, affordability and financial sustainability.

What Ghana needs to get right

The country's energy transformation will require several things to happen together.

First, generation capacity must keep pace with economic growth.

Second, transmission and distribution infrastructure must be strengthened.

Third, renewable energy and storage must become increasingly important parts of the national energy mix.

Fourth, the financial sustainability of the electricity sector must improve.

Fifth, public spending and private investment must deliver value for money.

Sixth, energy policy must be closely connected to Ghana's industrial and economic development plans.

None of these challenges can be solved overnight.

But they can be addressed through consistent investment, better planning and stronger institutions.

From electricity access to economic opportunity

Ghana's electricity story is entering a different phase.

For many years, the focus was largely on connecting communities to the national grid.

That remains important.

But as Ghana approaches higher levels of electricity access, the conversation must increasingly turn toward what the electricity enables people and businesses to do.

Can a young entrepreneur operate a digital business reliably?

Can a manufacturer run a factory without unpredictable interruptions?

Can an agricultural processor operate machinery at competitive cost?

Can a mining company process more minerals locally?

Can businesses create jobs because energy is dependable?

Those are the questions that will determine whether Ghana's energy investments translate into broad economic opportunity.

The bigger African picture

Africa's industrial transformation will require more than electricity.

It will require roads, ports, digital infrastructure, financing, skilled workers, technology and effective institutions.

But energy remains one of the foundations.

Without it, factories cannot operate efficiently and modern economies cannot function at scale.

That is why the Future of Energy Conference matters beyond the energy sector itself.

The decisions being discussed affect manufacturing, agriculture, mining, technology, transportation, employment and trade.

Africa's future competitiveness will depend partly on whether the continent can build energy systems capable of supporting the industries it wants to create.

The road ahead for Ghana

The Mahama administration now faces the challenge of turning energy-sector ambitions into measurable results.

Connecting the remaining communities without electricity is one objective.

Making power more reliable is another.

Keeping electricity affordable for households and businesses is equally important.

And ensuring that the power sector remains financially sustainable will determine whether the progress can be maintained over the long term.

The ultimate measure of success should therefore go beyond the number of new connections.

It should be seen in the factories that operate, businesses that expand, jobs that are created and products that Ghana is able to process locally instead of exporting in raw form.

That is the real connection between energy and industrialisation.

And that is why the future of Ghana's power sector will be closely tied to the future of the country's economy.

Global Pulse GH will continue to follow Ghana's energy-sector reforms, industrialisation agenda and developments from the Future of Energy Conference 2026.

What Do You Think?

Does Ghana currently have the reliable and affordable electricity needed to support large-scale industrialisation?

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