John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, has urged global and regional stakeholders to take decisive action to tackle the significant energy disparities facing Africa. Speaking at the International Solar Alliance’s Floating Solar PV Framework session in Accra, he described the continent’s energy crisis as both urgent and filled with potential. With over 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity and nearly one billion without clean cooking solutions, Jinapor highlighted the paradox of Africa being the sunniest continent yet generating only 4% of the world’s solar power and attracting less than 2% of global clean energy investments.
He emphasized that Africa contributes just 6% to global energy consumption while emitting under 3% of energy-related CO₂ emissions, yet many remain without power. The minister pointed out that the challenges extend beyond infrastructure, identifying underinvestment, unequal access, and structural barriers as key obstacles to growth. Jinapor underlined the essential connection between universal energy access and broader development goals, including industrialization, job creation, food security, and climate resilience.
He emphasized that achieving universal energy access is not just a developmental goal but a moral imperative. Jinapor called for collaboration among governments, investors, and development partners to bridge Africa’s energy gap, stating that with a bold vision and collective commitment, the continent can transition from energy poverty to prosperity, paving the way for a greener and more resilient future.