RESEARCH STARTER

Ghana and hydropower

Ghana, located in West Africa, has a rich history of relying on hydropower for its electricity generation, significantly shaping its energy sector. As of 2023, the country has made considerable progress in electrification, with 86.63 percent of Ghanaians accessing electricity from the national grid, though rural areas still face challenges. The development of hydropower in Ghana began with the construction of the Akosombo hydroelectric plant in 1966, which marked a significant advance in the country's energy capacity. However, intermittent droughts in the following decades prompted a shift towards diversifying energy sources, including the establishment of thermal power stations in the 1990s to mitigate supply risks.

Despite these changes, hydropower remains a vital part of Ghana's energy landscape, accounting for 5.2 percent of the total energy supply by 2022, while other sources, such as oil and biofuels, have also come into play. Currently, Ghana is home to three major hydroelectric plants, with plans for additional projects to meet the rising energy demands of its population, which are growing by 10 to 15 percent annually. The ongoing challenge lies in balancing energy supply with the needs of both urban and rural communities, particularly as the government works towards ensuring access for all citizens.

Full Article

  • Official Name: Republic of Ghana.

Summary: Located in the west of Africa, Ghana has a growing energy sector striving to meet the increasing energy demands of its population. Historically, Ghana has relied on hydropower for its electricity generation.

As of 2024, 89.03 percent of people had access to electricity from the national grid. This was mainly due to the country connecting 276 rural communities to the grid during that year, according to the International Trade Administration. Ghana's energy sector has debt because its power pricing has created shortfalls for many years. This affects the country's economic development.

Historically, there have been three main periods of energy development in Ghana. In the early 1900s, the vast majority of power came from isolated diesel generators and stand-alone electricity systems, often owned by industries, factories, or hospitals. In 1914, the first public electricity supply was created to support the new Gold Coast Railway system. Connections were gradually extended to surrounding communities, and small power stations began to be commissioned to increase supply. However, it was often unreliable and never available all day; therefore, electricity consumption did not grow rapidly during this time.

In 1966, the Ghanaian hydropower sector made its first step forward with the construction of the 912-megawatt Akosombo hydroelectric plant, on the Volta River. The Kpong hydropower plant was then commissioned in 1982, adding another 160 megawatts to Ghana’s electricity capacity. The level of domestic electricity consumption in 1967 was less than 20 percent of the installed capacity at Akosombo, and only nine years after the installation of the Akosombo hydroplant, domestic electricity consumption had doubled, with hydropower now providing much more energy than diesel or coal.

Ghana was then hit by two severe droughts between 1982 and 1998, both of which led to significantly reduced rainfall and less water flowing through the hydropower turbines. With a sudden drop in supply, the Ghanaian government introduced mandatory rationing of electricity, at the same time beginning to consider alternative sources of power to back up the hydropower plants in case of further drought.

To this end, the government in the 1990s began a program to develop thermal power stations. Unfortunately, such projects were extremely expensive, and Ghana’s government struggled to fund construction. To attract funding from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, Ghana committed to large reforms in its power sector. For example, it was obliged to reduce the level of government control over energy supply companies, which had previously been completely owned by the government. The first commercial thermal combustion turbine power plant went into operation in 1997, and more have been developed since; however, this form of energy generation remains small compared to Ghana’s hydropower resources.

Because Ghana needs to import all fossil fuels such as natural gas, it became involved in the construction of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a 372-mile (600-kilometer) pipeline supplying natural gas from Nigeria to Ghana and other countries. However, there were disruptions to supply from Nigeria in 2009, low gas volumes in 2010, and attacks by pirates in 2012. As a result, Ghana began seeking secure and stable gas imports from other suppliers.

By 2023, 61.5 percent of Ghana’s total energy supply came from fossil fuels, 37.8 percent came from hydropower, and 0.1 percent came from solar power, according to the World Factbook in 2025. As of 2024, Ghana was home to two major hydroelectric plants, with more expected to come into operation by 2030.


Bibliography

Dubey, Sunita Chikkatur. "Island Communities in Ghana Get Electricity—at Last!" The World Bank, 18 Sept. 2017, blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/island-communities-in-ghana-get-electricity-at-last. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

"Ghana." CIA World Factbook, 17 Sept. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ghana/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

"Ghana." International Energy Agency, 2024, www.iea.org/countries/ghana. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

"Ghana." US Energy Information Administration, May 2018, www.eia.gov/international/analysis/country/GHA. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

Full Article

  • Official Name: Republic of Ghana.

Summary: Located in the west of Africa, Ghana has a growing energy sector striving to meet the increasing energy demands of its population. Historically, Ghana has relied on hydropower for its electricity generation.

As of 2024, 89.03 percent of people had access to electricity from the national grid. This was mainly due to the country connecting 276 rural communities to the grid during that year, according to the International Trade Administration. Ghana's energy sector has debt because its power pricing has created shortfalls for many years. This affects the country's economic development.

Historically, there have been three main periods of energy development in Ghana. In the early 1900s, the vast majority of power came from isolated diesel generators and stand-alone electricity systems, often owned by industries, factories, or hospitals. In 1914, the first public electricity supply was created to support the new Gold Coast Railway system. Connections were gradually extended to surrounding communities, and small power stations began to be commissioned to increase supply. However, it was often unreliable and never available all day; therefore, electricity consumption did not grow rapidly during this time.

In 1966, the Ghanaian hydropower sector made its first step forward with the construction of the 912-megawatt Akosombo hydroelectric plant, on the Volta River. The Kpong hydropower plant was then commissioned in 1982, adding another 160 megawatts to Ghana’s electricity capacity. The level of domestic electricity consumption in 1967 was less than 20 percent of the installed capacity at Akosombo, and only nine years after the installation of the Akosombo hydroplant, domestic electricity consumption had doubled, with hydropower now providing much more energy than diesel or coal.

Ghana was then hit by two severe droughts between 1982 and 1998, both of which led to significantly reduced rainfall and less water flowing through the hydropower turbines. With a sudden drop in supply, the Ghanaian government introduced mandatory rationing of electricity, at the same time beginning to consider alternative sources of power to back up the hydropower plants in case of further drought.

To this end, the government in the 1990s began a program to develop thermal power stations. Unfortunately, such projects were extremely expensive, and Ghana’s government struggled to fund construction. To attract funding from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, Ghana committed to large reforms in its power sector. For example, it was obliged to reduce the level of government control over energy supply companies, which had previously been completely owned by the government. The first commercial thermal combustion turbine power plant went into operation in 1997, and more have been developed since; however, this form of energy generation remains small compared to Ghana’s hydropower resources.

Because Ghana needs to import all fossil fuels such as natural gas, it became involved in the construction of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a 372-mile (600-kilometer) pipeline supplying natural gas from Nigeria to Ghana and other countries. However, there were disruptions to supply from Nigeria in 2009, low gas volumes in 2010, and attacks by pirates in 2012. As a result, Ghana began seeking secure and stable gas imports from other suppliers.

By 2023, 61.5 percent of Ghana’s total energy supply came from fossil fuels, 37.8 percent came from hydropower, and 0.1 percent came from solar power, according to the World Factbook in 2025. As of 2024, Ghana was home to two major hydroelectric plants, with more expected to come into operation by 2030.


Bibliography

Dubey, Sunita Chikkatur. "Island Communities in Ghana Get Electricity—at Last!" The World Bank, 18 Sept. 2017, blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/island-communities-in-ghana-get-electricity-at-last. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

"Ghana." CIA World Factbook, 17 Sept. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ghana/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

"Ghana." International Energy Agency, 2024, www.iea.org/countries/ghana. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

"Ghana." US Energy Information Administration, May 2018, www.eia.gov/international/analysis/country/GHA. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

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