Accra, Oct. 26, GNA – Dr Senalor K. Yawlui, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, has underscored the importance of regional integration and harmonised energy policies as the continent transitions towards clean and sustainable power.
That, he said, could be achieved through the catalytic role of the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), an African-led international partnership that aims to accelerate the transition to renewable energy across the continent in driving the transformation.
Dr Yawlui was delivering a statement at the Second Africa Renewable Energy Investment and Partnership Forum held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Co-hosted by the Sierra Leonean Government and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the forum was convened on the theme: “Scaling up Investment to Accelerate Africa’s Energy Transition and Green Industrialisation.”
The event served as a high-level platform for discussing strategies to boost renewable energy investment and expand green-led industrialisation across the continent, with participants including senior leaders from various African nations, financial institutions, energy sector heads, and development partners.
Dr Yawlui said Ghana was the “Gateway to West Africa” and committed to strengthening regional power sector cooperation through frameworks that supported cross-border electricity trade and renewable energy development.
“The integration of power grids across West Africa requires harmonisation of policies and regulations among member countries,” he said.
“APRA plays a catalytic role in this process, facilitating regulations to cut down the cost of marketing and transmission when dealing with cross-border power trade.”
He explained that Ghana’s integrated power sector framework, covering generation, transmission, and distribution, positioned her as a strong partner in advancing regional energy access and security.
Beyond integration, Dr Yawlui said Ghana was working to foster concessionary financing arrangements, technology transfer, and capacity building to create a conducive environment for green energy investment.
Touching on the country’s domestic policies, he mentioned the strong national foundation the government had laid to attract investors and accelerate energy transition.
The National Framework for Energy Transition (2022–2070) provides long-term policy direction towards achieving a full green energy transition by 2070.
Complementing this vision is the Renewable Energy Master Plan, which seeks to generate 10 per cent of the national energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, leveraging solar, wind, and biomass projects.
The High Commissioner to Sierra Leone said Ghana was capitalising on government-backed programmes to solicit private and development funding for those renewable ventures.
The policy remained a cornerstone of Ghana’s reform agenda, he noted, adding: “Investors need to see predictability, and Ghana’s advantage lies in its stable democracy and consistent policy landscape that guarantees long-term security for investments.”
To ensure energy stability, Ghana was also investing in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and developing a local policy framework to support electric mobility manufacturing to diversify its energy sources, he said.
“These efforts align with Ghana’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its clean energy policy, ensuring that the country’s transition is inclusive, balanced, and sustainable.”
He indicated that the systemic reforms being implemented were not only aimed at environmental sustainability but also at boosting industrial competitiveness and creating decent green jobs.
Dr. Yawlui reaffirmed the perfect alignment of the APRA’s partnership model,
Focusing on unlocking renewable investment across Africa, with Ghana’s development agenda and the regional vision for an integrated, low-carbon power system.
“We believe APRA can help Africa achieve a new level of energy cooperation, one that supports both national growth and regional prosperity,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe