The Minister for Finance-designate, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has affirmed the government's commitment to achieving universal access to electricity by the end of the year.

This goal will be pursued through the use of mini-grids and smaller power generating systems to reach off-grid communities, with the country currently having achieved 88.85% access.

During a panel discussion on achieving rapid energy access, Dr. Amin emphasized the importance of deliberate and intentional policies and programs to rapidly expand energy access.

“Right from the 1990s, we were very intentional. The government decided that Ghana must achieve universal access to electricity and so we put in relevant policies and a national electrification scheme, we put in rural electrification programme, and we also put in a self-help electrification programme in which communities and the government shared the cost of electricity access.

In response to another question regarding pitfalls to avoid, the Minister emphasized the importance of procuring electricity generation through competitive bidding. He cautioned against procuring energy through unsolicited projects, which tend to be extremely expensive.

“It is important that when you are in crises, you do not acquire as many generating capacity as you would not need, because the tendency for investors to come knocking  on your door and justify why you should acquire more is very high and you acquire it at a very high cost. “

In response to another question about attracting investors to the sector, the Minister discussed the energy sector reforms the government is undertaking.

These reforms aim to remove bottlenecks in the system and attract investors. They include tariff reforms, quarterly audits of the cash waterfall program, and the acquisition of one million new meters with the assistance of the World Bank to harmonize and standardize meters.

The panel discussion, a flagship program at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, focused on the theme "Energizing Africa: What will it take to achieve universal energy access?"

It delved into the strategies needed to scale up solutions and investments that will connect millions more Africans to electricity and transform African economies.

Other panelists included Asay Banga, President of the World Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, as well as ministers of state, energy investors, and stakeholders from both the government and private sectors.