By Ishmael Junourgh 
Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s approach to energy development, arguing that the continent’s energy future must go beyond expanding access to electricity to building reliable, affordable and sustainable power systems capable of driving industrial transformation.
Mr Jinapor made the call when he delivered an address at the Future of Energy Conference (FEC) 2026 on the theme, “Powering Africa’s Industrial Transformation: Energy Systems for Value Addition and Competitiveness.”
He said Africa’s energy ambitions must be anchored in the need to power industries, promote local value addition, create jobs and strengthen the competitiveness of African economies.
According to him, expanding access to electricity remains important, but the real measure of Africa’s energy progress should be its ability to provide dependable and affordable power for productive economic activities.
Ghana’s Energy Sector at a Turning Point
For Ghana, Mr Jinapor identified the strengthening of the financial sustainability of the power sector as a critical priority.
He also emphasised the need for sustained investment in power generation, energy storage and transmission infrastructure, alongside greater transparency and value for money in the management of the sector.
He further called for deeper regional energy cooperation, stressing the importance of collaboration among African countries in building resilient and efficient energy systems capable of supporting economic transformation.
Powering Value Addition and Jobs
Mr Jinapor’s message placed energy at the centre of Africa’s industrialisation agenda, particularly as countries seek to move away from exporting raw materials and instead develop industries that add value locally.
Reliable and affordable electricity, he noted, is critical to supporting manufacturing, agro-processing, mining, technology and other productive sectors that can generate employment and improve livelihoods.
Mahama Administration Driving Energy Transformation
Mr Jinapor said Ghana, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, is pursuing a transformation of the energy sector aimed at creating a more sustainable, efficient and competitive system.
He said the objective is to build an energy sector capable of powering Ghana’s industrial growth while creating opportunities for citizens and strengthening the country’s position within the regional and global economy. His address at FEC 2026 therefore placed a clear challenge before African policymakers: the continent’s energy future must not merely be about keeping the lights on, but about powering factories, enabling value addition, creating jobs and making African economies more competitive.
Wononuo Salifu