The Government has announced major investments in electricity generation, power infrastructure and renewable energy as it steps up efforts to improve energy security, enhance grid reliability and expand access to electricity across the country.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review to Parliament on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said Government had continued to stabilise electricity supply while reducing financial risks in the power sector through ongoing generation and infrastructure projects.
The Minister disclosed that the first 171-megawatt phase of the AKSA Anwomaso Thermal Project had been commissioned and synchronised with the national grid. He said the addition of the steam component would increase the plant’s installed capacity to 200 megawatts before the end of the year.
He also announced that construction of the 100-megawatt Cenit Thermal Plant was about 90 per cent complete, while the Volta River Authority’s Anwomaso Thermal Plant is expected to make its full 250-megawatt capacity available by the end of 2026.
Dr Forson said reconstruction of the Akosombo switchyard, damaged by fire in April 2026, was progressing steadily and is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. Government is also procuring about 2,000 distribution transformers to replace damaged equipment, reduce pressure on overloaded networks and improve electricity distribution nationwide.
Broadening the Energy Agenda
Beyond increasing generation capacity, the Minister outlined measures aimed at strengthening energy security and promoting cleaner sources of energy.
He said Government was scaling up the nationwide distribution of 457,000 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves to encourage the adoption of clean cooking technologies.
In the downstream petroleum sector, Cabinet has approved a new National Petroleum Authority Bill, which has been submitted to Parliament to modernise the regulatory and governance framework for the industry.
Dr Forson further revealed that the return of the Tema Oil Refinery after its turnaround maintenance had boosted local refining capacity. He added that Government had facilitated domestic crude oil supply arrangements for both the refinery and the Sentuo Oil Refinery to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and strengthen Ghana’s energy security.
The Minister said Government was implementing 35 mini-grid projects across 47 island and lakeside communities to improve electricity access in underserved parts of the country.
He noted that about 3,600 smart net meters had been procured under the Scaling-up Renewable Energy Programme, while the installation of 750 solar home systems for households and public institutions was progressing.
According to Dr Forson, studies for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) had been completed to facilitate greater integration of renewable energy into the national electricity grid and improve grid stability.
He added that 6,834 solar streetlights had been installed under the All-in-One Solar Street Lighting Project, while foundations for more than 10,000 additional installations had already been completed.
The Minister also highlighted progress on solar-powered irrigation projects at Buipe and under the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Programme, describing them as important interventions to improve agricultural water security and boost rural productivity.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Dr Forson said Government had developed a Renewable Energy Authority Bill together with a Renewable Energy Implementation and Green Transition Framework to strengthen the institutional and policy framework supporting Ghana’s transition to sustainable energy.
He said the measures formed part of the Mahama administration’s broader strategy to build a more resilient, reliable and environmentally sustainable energy sector capable of supporting economic growth, industrial development and improved living standards across the country.
