Ghana, Switzerland launch US$200m clean energy drive, to cut power costs and expand solar access

The national transition to affordable and sustainable power has received a major boost with the launch of a US$200 million National Clean Energy Programme (NCEP) that seeks to accelerate the installation of rooftop solar systems across the country.

The initiative, developed in partnership with the Government of Switzerland and implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, will support households, small businesses, and industries to adopt renewable energy, reduce dependence on the national grid, and lower electricity costs.

Under the programme, 4,000 rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, totalling 137 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity, will be developed nationwide. It will also deliver verified emission reductions while improving livelihoods, enhancing energy security, and stimulating local innovation in clean energy technologies.

At the launch in Accra, John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, said the initiative was designed to make solar energy more accessible and affordable, especially for small businesses and middle-income households struggling with high electricity bills.

“This programme is a practical demonstration of our commitment to an inclusive energy transition. It will empower citizens to generate their own power, reduce costs, and contribute to a cleaner environment,” he said.

He added that the Ministry was updating the Renewable Energy Master Plan to guide investments between 2026 and 2030, and had established a Renewable Energy Investment and Green Transition Fund to attract private capital into the solar and off-grid sectors.

Felix Addo-Okyeireh, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), described the NCEP as a tangible outcome of Ghana’s commitment to leverage international carbon markets for sustainable development.

He said the programme would ensure measurable and credible emission reductions while helping Ghana achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, said the programme illustrated how international cooperation could turn ambition into action.

“Ghana is climbing the right tree, the tree of clean and sustainable energy,  and Switzerland is proud to lend its support through partnership, investment, and shared expertise,” she said.

She noted that although Ghana has achieved close to 90 per cent electricity access, about 64 per cent of generation still depends on fossil fuels, highlighting the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy to shield the economy from fuel price volatility and supply disruptions.

The NCEP marks Ghana’s first rooftop solar PV initiative under Article 6 and the second of its kind globally, reinforcing the country’s leadership in clean energy transformation and carbon market innovation in Africa.

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