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Ghana's Minister of Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, identified financing as a critical barrier to the expansion of microgrids and minigrids necessary for achieving universal electricity access. Speaking at a forum in Accra, he cited high upfront costs and risks as deterrents for private sector involvement.

The current electricity access rate in Ghana stands at 89.03%, leaving approximately 3.5 million people without reliable power, predominantly in remote areas. Jinapor emphasized the need for decentralized systems powered by renewable sources to provide reliable electricity and support economic activities.

The forum reviewed progress from the Africa Energy Parks initiative and the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme, which aim to enhance off-grid electrification and secure stakeholder buy-in. Collaboration among government, industry, and development partners is essential for effective implementation.