Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has unveiled a major renewable energy initiative aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on the national electricity grid.
Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor announced the installation of 23,500 integrated solar-powered street lights across the country during the Government Accountability Series held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Jinapor said the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to promote clean energy solutions and mitigate stress on the national power supply.
“The goods in these containers were not part of the materials locked up at the port; these are new containers coming up following procurements which were undertaken previously,” he explained, addressing concerns over reports of stranded imports.
His comments clarified that the latest arrivals were part of a planned procurement for the solar lighting project.
The Energy Minister emphasized that the deployment of solar-powered lighting will not only reduce the grid’s energy burden but also support sustainable infrastructure development.
He noted that this transition marks a critical step toward achieving Ghana’s clean energy objectives, with further project details expected in the coming weeks.
In addition to the solar rollout, Jinapor addressed the ongoing financial woes of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), attributing the challenges to the previous administration. “Almost 200 million dollars in debt was incurred by the previous government at the Tema Oil Refinery,” he stated, pointing to structural legacy issues and reaffirming the current government’s commitment to reviving the facility.
The solar street light project forms a key component of the administration’s green energy roadmap and signals a shift towards decentralizing essential services from the central power grid. According to Jinapor, this move is expected to result in substantial cost savings over time while improving the reliability of public lighting in both urban and rural communities.
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