Ghana’s energy crisis continues to pose a profound challenge to national development, despite gains in electrification and infrastructure expansion. Recent instances of load shedding, commonly referred to as “dumsor”, highlight persistent weaknesses in the nation’s power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. At the core of this crisis lies a complex mix of overreliance on hydropower, fluctuating fuel prices, aging infrastructure, and insufficient policy implementation.
Although Ghana of boasts one of the highest electrification rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, hovering between 80–90%, it still struggles with grid instability, generation deficits, and poor infrastructure resilience. Despite substantial investments in generation and transmission over the past decade, the system remains vulnerable to fuel shortages, drought, outdated infrastructure, and operational inefficiencies.
As a lecturer and researcher at Koforidua Technical University’s Department of Electrical Engineering, I believe it is our duty to educate, collaborate, and drive sustainable solutions to these national problems. And this article draws on the knowledge of several leading experts, Ghanaian and international, who have proposed workable solutions, including Ing. George Nana Yirenkyi Appiah, Dr. Alfred Kwabena Ofosu-Ahenkorah, and Dr. Samuel Asante Gyamerah, among others.
Understanding the Root Causes of Ghana’s Energy Crisis
Ghana’s energy mix has historically relied on hydroelectric power, notably from the Akosombo and Bui Dams. While clean and renewable, these sources are highly susceptible to climate variations, particularly droughts. Thermal plants, which currently constitute a major share of the energy supply, often depend on imported fuel, making them vulnerable to geopolitical and economic shifts.
Further compounding the crisis is a transmission system that has seen only modest upgrades. Ghana’s grid infrastructure lacks the flexibility and intelligence of modern systems, making it difficult to accommodate renewable sources like solar and wind. Load balancing, fault detection, and real-time monitoring remain major hurdles.
Ing. George Nana Yirenkyi Appiah, a respected voice in both academia and industry, has consistently argued that the country’s energy challenge is not just technical but systemic. In his publication titled “Bridging the Energy Divide: A Path Toward Equitable and Intelligent Power Systems in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa”, he emphasizes the need for decentralized energy systems, smart grid technology, and inclusive energy planning. His work provides a roadmap that balances innovation with equity, ensuring rural communities are not left behind in Ghana’s energy transition.
Global Inspirations
Ghana does not have to reinvent the wheel. Solutions abound from developed economies that have tackled similar crises. In the United States, the development of smart grids has transformed how power is generated and distributed. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), AI-driven load forecasting, and demand-response mechanisms have allowed utilities to minimize outages and maximize efficiency.
Dr. Alfred Kwabena Ofosu-Ahenkorah, former Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission of Ghana, has publicly cited the U.S. as a benchmark for technological adaptation. He advocates for a stronger regulatory environment to encourage utility modernization. His work in spearheading appliance labeling and energy efficiency standards in Ghana has already led to tangible savings and should be extended into industrial and public infrastructure.
In China, the rapid deployment of utility-scale solar and hydropower has provided critical lessons in speed, coordination, and scale. Ghana has already benefited from Chinese partnerships in building the Bui Dam and developing solar fields in the Gomoa region. Experts like Ing. Appiah have emphasized the importance of learning not just from these engineering feats but also from the policy frameworks that enabled them. In several of his public lectures, he has emphasized the role of public-private partnerships and state incentives in driving renewable adoption.
Germany and Japan offer lessons in decentralization and community empowerment. In these countries, communities are empowered to generate, store, and trade their own energy, creating resilience at the local level. Researchers such as Dr. Samuel Asante Gyamerah, in his paper “Modelling the Hourly Consumption of Electricity in Ghana’s Urban Centers,” argues for the use of granular data analytics to predict energy use patterns and design responsive systems.
The Role of Ghanaian Engineers and Researchers
Ghana is not lacking in expertise. The country boasts an impressive roster of professionals who are advancing energy science through rigorous research and field implementation. Among the most distinguished is Ing. George Nana Yirenkyi Appiah, who not only leads Clearedge Tech Ltd but also contributes to academic research and media publications.
What distinguishes Ing. Appiah is his dual approach: merging industrial insight with academic rigor. His proposed framework in “Bridging the Energy Divide” outlines a three-pronged strategy—technology integration, community participation, and policy reform. He also actively supports the training of young engineers, believing that the next generation must be equipped to manage intelligent energy systems.
Another respected professional is Dr. Alfred Kwabena Ofosu-Ahenkorah, former Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission. Dr. Ofosu-Ahenkorah was instrumental in developing Ghana’s energy efficiency framework, including appliance labeling systems and building energy codes. His work has led to reduced household consumption and laid the groundwork for scaling sustainable practices across residential and commercial sectors.
Academic contributions from researchers such as Samuel Asante Gyamerah also provide technical insights into demand forecasting. In his publication, “Modelling the Hourly Consumption of Electricity: A Statistical Approach for Urban Load Management,” Gyamerah presents predictive models that help grid operators better plan for peak loads and avoid costly outages. These models can guide policy decisions and serve as digital tools for real-time monitoring.
A Roadmap for Energy Resilience in Ghana
To resolve Ghana’s energy crisis, the country must act across multiple fronts. First, we must modernize the national grid. Smart grid technologies, including advanced metering, sensor networks, and automated substations, can revolutionize how power is managed. Ing. Appiah has repeatedly stressed the importance of piloting smart microgrids in peri-urban and rural areas before full-scale deployment.
Second, Ghana must accelerate its adoption of solar energy. Utility-scale farms, like those developed with Chinese partners, are a good start. However, decentralizing solar through rooftop panels, community solar projects, and mobile-grid platforms, as seen in Kenya and India, will provide greater resilience.
Third, we must embrace data-driven planning. Dr. Gyamerah’s research provides the tools to anticipate demand patterns and design systems accordingly. Integrating these models with real-time grid data could dramatically improve system reliability.
Energy efficiency must also be scaled. Dr. Ofosu-Ahenkorah’s early work on appliance standards and labeling should now be extended to public infrastructure, including government buildings, schools, and hospitals. In several interviews, he has highlighted the billions of cedis Ghana could save annually by simply enforcing existing energy codes.
The Role of Academic Institutions and Engineers
Ghanaian universities, particularly technical institutions like Koforidua Technical University, have a vital role to play in bridging research, industry, and policy. By encouraging faculty-led innovation, student-led pilot projects, and institutional partnerships with utilities and startups, these institutions can become hubs of sustainable energy development.
Public awareness also remains a critical piece of the puzzle. As Ing. Appiah has noted in articles, no energy reform can succeed without public buy-in. Citizens must understand how their energy choices, appliance use, payment habits, conservation practices, affect the broader system.
National conversations about nuclear power, renewable investments, and energy tariffs must include voices from universities, think tanks, and the media. Dr. Ofosu-Ahenkorah has consistently argued for transparency in energy pricing and greater citizen participation in policy development.
Lecturers, engineers, and researchers must also embrace their roles as public educators. The energy conversation should not remain confined to lecture halls and boardrooms. It must reach the streets, communities, and youth groups that experience the effects of “dumsor” firsthand.
Toward an Intelligent, Equitable Energy Future
The solution to Ghana’s energy crisis lies not in imitation but in intelligent adaptation. Ghana must absorb the lessons of the United States’ smart grid evolution, China’s solar expansion, and Germany’s energy efficiency, while simultaneously elevating the contributions of local leaders like Ing. George Appiah, Dr. Ofosu-Ahenkorah, and Samuel Gyamerah.
By blending global innovation with homegrown expertise, Ghana can build an energy future that is reliable, inclusive, and forward-looking. This is not just an engineering challenge, it is a national opportunity. Let us rise to meet it.
By
Lord Anertei Tetteh,
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Koforidua Technical University
