Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, has called on Ghana and other African countries to invest in nuclear energy, describing it as a reliable and clean source of electricity capable of supporting the continent’s long-term energy needs.
Mr Gyan-Mensah made the call on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), held at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. The week-long event is being hosted by the Volta River Authority (VRA) in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), GRIDCo and the Bui Power Authority (BPA).
The meeting, themed “Accelerating Africa’s Electricity Market Integration: Advancing Regulatory Readiness, Regional Market Development and Strategic Partnerships,” has brought together power sector leaders, policymakers and industry experts from across Africa and beyond to discuss strategies for improving electricity access and regional power market integration.
“I add my voice to that of the Chief Executive of VRA, Mr Obeng-Kenzo, and look forward to VRA venturing into nuclear energy production to harness its benefits, including cleaner air, high reliability and improved energy density,” Mr Gyan-Mensah said.
The Deputy Minister also outlined measures taken by the Mahama administration to strengthen Ghana’s power sector. He said the government has settled more than $1.4 billion in legacy energy sector debts, restored the $500 million World Bank guarantee for the Sankofa Gas Project and strengthened the Cash Waterfall Mechanism to improve liquidity and ensure reliable electricity supply.
He added that Ghana currently has more than 5,000 megawatts of installed electricity generation capacity, with over 4,700 megawatts considered dependable, while solar power generation continues to grow.
Mr Gyan-Mensah further urged electricity distribution companies, including ECG and NEDCo, to improve grid stability and expand access. He also emphasised the importance of digitalisation and advanced technologies in reducing costs, improving efficiency and ensuring the sustainability of Africa’s power sector.