By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
Accra, Dec. 4, GNA – Mr Richard Gyan-Mensah, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, says Ghana’s energy transition and expanding regional electricity market present unprecedented opportunities for young people to lead innovation, entrepreneurship and policy development in the sector.
He said the country’s improved economic environment had boosted investor confidence and opened new space for youth-driven initiatives in energy, technology and industrial growth.
Mr Gyan-Mensah was speaking at the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) as part of the West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit 2025 in Accra.
YES! is an Energy Net initiative empowering Africa’s youth to lead in the energy sector through knowledge, connections, and opportunity.
The programme explores initiatives like the Adwumawura Programme, the 24-hour Economy, and the Volta Lake Economic Corridor, with career workshops, recruitment sessions, and dialogues with employers, investors, and policymakers.
The summit focused on the power sector, particularly in Africa, and facilitated discussions between governments, utilities, and international investors to promote energy projects.
The Deputy Minister said the electricity demand in West Africa was rising by three to eight per cent annually, with Ghana’s own demand growing at 3.8 per cent.
“To meet future needs Ghana planned to invest US$3.4 billion in energy infrastructure over the next two years, creating jobs and technical pathways for young engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs,” he added.
He said Ghana’s vision to become a regional hub for power, renewable energy and clean technologies anchored by the Energy Transition Framework (net zero by 2070) and the Energy Transition Plan (2060), would rely heavily on the creativity and leadership of young people.
The transition targets a 30 per cent share of renewable energy, 30 per cent improvement in energy efficiency, expansion of natural gas infrastructure, and scaling clean cooking solutions to one million households.
“These ambitions require new thinkers, new technologies and new business models and the youth are at the centre of all of it,” he said.
Mr Gyan-Mensah urged young people to design cross-border renewable energy systems, build clean-tech startups, develop digital tools to reduce distribution losses, and participate actively in shaping energy policy.
The Deputy Minister said the regional energy integration initiatives including the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the African Single Electricity Market (AFSEM) and the AfCFTA would open a continental market of 1.4 billion people.
That would offer the Ghanaian youth opportunities to export skills, technologies and services while unlocking an estimated 10GW of power trade by 2030.
He reaffirmed the Ministry of Energy’s commitment to empowering young people through training, partnerships and supportive policies.
He said the future of Ghana’s energy transition depended on the innovation and leadership of the next generation.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe