Ghana plans to increase its electricity generation capacity by an additional 3,000 megawatts by 2030 as part of efforts to meet rising power demand from households and industries.
The announcement was made by Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson during the Ishmael Yamson & Associates Business Roundtable held in Accra on Wednesday.
According to the Finance Minister, the expansion is intended to stabilise electricity supply and reduce costly power outages that continue to affect industrial productivity and the competitiveness of manufacturing businesses.
Dr. Forson disclosed that about 30% of the planned additional capacity will come from renewable energy sources as Ghana pushes to diversify its energy mix and strengthen long-term energy security.
The country has recently experienced intermittent power supply resulting from generation shortfalls and planned maintenance works by Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
According to the 2025 Electricity Supply Plan published by the Energy Commission, Ghana’s installed grid-connected generation capacity stood at 5,738 MW as of December 2024, while dependable capacity for 2025 is projected at 4,742.35 MW.
Current system peak demand is estimated at about 4,300 MW and is expected to increase to nearly 6,198 MW by 2030.
Dr. Forson noted that Africa loses an estimated US$25 billion annually due to power outages, describing the continent’s persistent energy challenges as unacceptable despite its abundant natural resources, including gas, hydro, solar, wind, and critical minerals.
“We cannot industrialise in darkness,” he stated, emphasizing that reliable and affordable electricity remains essential for industrialisation, competitiveness, and job creation.
He also advocated greater local processing and refining of Africa’s natural resources, including lithium, bauxite, and cocoa, to maximise economic value within the continent.
The Finance Minister further identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as an important complement to industrialisation efforts, describing regional trade integration as a vital economic strategy for Africa’s future growth.