Towards an affordable and sustainable electricity sector for inclusive growth
At their workshop Towards an affordable and sustainable electricity sector for inclusive growth on 8th May, the IGC Ghana team, in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Utilities Regulation, present IGC-commissioned work on the financial viability and sustainability of the Ghanaian electricity sector. During the workshop, a panel of academia, development partners, policymakers and think tanks discuss renewed focus on green energy transition.
Universal access to reliable and sustainable electricity at reasonable tariffs has direct and immediate implications for inclusive and sustained economic growth. Without it, it is nearly impossible to spur industrial growth, productivity, innovation, job creation and quality of life. Therefore, ensuring a financially viable electricity sector capable of supplying reliable and affordable power to all is fundamental for inclusive and sustained economic development.
While emerging economies are making significant strides in rapidly extending access, the electricity sector in these economies is neither financially viable nor reliable. For example, Ghana’s electricity sector continues to be characterised by erratic power outages, large system losses, high tariffs and a financially weak electricity value chain.
In view of these challenges, the IGC in collaboration with policy the Public Utilities Regulation Commission (PURC), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and the Energy Commission, commissioned several studies to understand better the nature and the extent of the electricity sector challenges, evaluate the impacts of recent policy interventions and to proffer policy options towards affordable, reliable and financially viable electricity sector.
The workshop brings together academics, policymakers, and technocrats in the Ghanaian electricity sector to discuss the findings and policy implications of these projects. It is also expected to serve as a platform to co-generate research projects around emerging themes within the electricity sector.