Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has called on global and regional stakeholders to take bold and decisive action to address the growing energy inequities facing Africa.

Speaking at the International Solar Alliance’s (ISA) Floating Solar PV Framework session held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Mr. Jinapor described Africa’s energy crisis as “urgent yet full of promise.”

He highlighted that over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and nearly one billion people are without clean cooking solutions.

Despite being the sunniest continent, Africa generates only 4% of the world’s solar power and receives less than 2% of global clean energy investment.

“Africa contributes just 6% of global energy use and emits under 3% of energy-related CO₂ emissions, yet our people remain in the dark,” the Minister emphasised.

Mr. Jinapor stressed that the continent’s energy challenges go beyond infrastructure, pointing to “underinvestment, unequal access, and structural barriers” as major obstacles to Africa’s growth and development.

He underscored the critical link between universal energy access and broader goals such as industrialisation, job creation, food security, and climate resilience.

“Universal access to energy is not merely a development goal; it is a moral imperative,” he declared.

The Minister urged governments, investors, and development partners to work together to close Africa’s energy gap.

“With bold vision and collective resolve, we can transition from energy poverty to energy prosperity, forging a brighter, greener, and more resilient future for all,” Mr. Jinapor concluded.