The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has launched a major renewable energy initiative aimed at delivering uninterrupted electricity to 47 underserved island and remote communities across the Bono East, Oti, and Savannah regions. The project, known as the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), is expected to generate clean and sustainable power for over 70,000 people
Unveiled at Lala, an island community in the Sene East District of the Bono East Region, the project underscores the government’s drive to close the energy access gap while promoting a green transition. According to the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr.John Abdulai Jinapor, the SREP will deliver solar electrification through the construction of 35 mini-grids and the installation of 1,450 solar home systems in unelectrified off-grid communities. In addition, 12,000 net-metered rooftop solar PV systems will be installed nationwide as part of efforts to transition Ghana’s energy mix towards greater sustainability.
When completed in 15 months, the SREP is expected to contribute 13.5 per cent of renewable energy—excluding hydropower—to Ghana’s national energy mix. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the Climate Investment Fund, the Swiss Government, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), with the ultimate aim of reaching 99.8 per cent national electrification by 2030..
The construction phase of the project is projected to create 2,859 jobs, with deliberate efforts to ensure inclusivity by targeting at least 30 per cent of those opportunities toward women and youth. Minister Jinapor emphasised that access to electricity in island and lakeside communities is critical to powering education, health services, and local businesses, which in turn opens new pathways for innovation and entrepreneurship.
He stated that the initiative goes beyond the installation of solar panels and physical infrastructure. “As a Ministry, we are not just installing solar panels or building infrastructure. We are lighting up lives, empowering communities and bridging the rural-urban energy divide,” he said.