Ghana’s rapid development has resulted in a considerable increases in the population’s access to electricity, increasing from 23% in 1990 to 79% in 2016. However, power outages or “dumsor” still occur and negatively impact the state. While Ghana may not always have access to electricity, the state certainly has constant access to the sun. In recent years, there has been an increasing realization of the potential of solar energy, and while investments have been made, investment programs need remodeling.
Ghana does have one of the highest access to electricity rates in Africa. Only two mainland sub-Saharan African countries have higher rates, Gabon and South Africa. While Ghana’s energy sector should rightly be applauded, additional steps still must be taken for further advancement.
When dumsor do occur they greatly hurt productivity, as lights, fans, computers, and internet are unable to be used. Generators and their necessary fuel are costly for and notably increase operating costs. Restaurants and food vendors, as well as households, also face direct loses due to the spoiling of food during dumsor.
The economic loses of these have been quantified, as the Institute of Statistical and Industrial Research found that over a four-year period Ghana lost USD 3 billion due to power crises.
Currently, solar energy accounts for just 1% of the country’s energy mix, which is primarily constituted of oil and hydropower. The government has the ambitious goal of having solar energy make up 10% of the energy mix by 2020. Yet, since 2013 there has been only marginal increases in the production of solar energy.
By: Andrew David
