Ghana has been urged to pursue a balanced energy transition that protects jobs, strengthens energy security and sustains economic growth while fulfilling its climate commitments. A
The report indicates that ghana has been urged to pursue a balanced energy transition that protects jobs, strengthens energy security and sustains economic growth while fulfilling its climate commitments.
It further notes that a consultant and technical advisor, Dr. Charles Gyamfi Ofori, speaking at a seminar on the theme “A Just Energy Transition: The Role of Petroleum Engineers in Africa’s Energy Future” at Takoradi Technical University, stated the country’s transition to cleaner energy should not come at the expense of economic development.
”The transition would happen, but petroleum still becomes relevant in the way we manage our lives. What we can do is position ourselves to benefit not just around the environment but also around the economics and the social opportunities,” he said.
Dr. Ofori explained that although the global energy transition is driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, Ghana must implement policies that reflect its development needs.
He noted that under the Paris Agreement, Ghana has continued to strengthen its climate commitments through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
”Ghana submitted its first Nationally Determined Contributions in 2015. It was updated in 2021, and in 2026 we are now working on our NDC 3.0,” he said.
According to him, Ghana’s commitments include increasing renewable energy’s share in electricity generation to 10 per cent, improving energy efficiency and replacing liquid fuels with natural gas in thermal power generation to reduce carbon emissions.
Dr. Ofori emphasised that while renewable energy is expanding rapidly, oil and gas will continue to play an important role in Ghana’s economy over the next few decades.
”Do you think petroleum will be relevant in the next 20 to 30 years? Yes. Do you think renewable energy will also be relevant? Yes. The issue is not choosing one over the other but positioning ourselves to benefit from both,” he stated.
Dr. Ofori noted that affordability is increasingly influencing consumer choices.
”People are thinking not just around the environment but also around economics. If I can spend GH¢100 to charge my car and travel about 300 kilometres instead of buying GH¢500 worth of fuel for the same distance, which one becomes more economical?” he asked.
He encouraged engineering students to broaden their expertise beyond petroleum, saying “the evolving energy landscape presents opportunities in renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy and critical minerals such as lithium.”
The Head of the Department of Oil and Natural Gas Engineering at Takoradi Technical University, Dr. Joseph Sakyi-Ansah, stated Africa’s energy transition must be pursued in a way that addresses the continent’s development challenges.
”While the world accelerates its transition to low-carbon energy systems, over 600 million Africans still lack access to reliable electricity. For Africa, a Just Energy Transition cannot simply mean abandoning fossil fuels. It must balance environmental sustainability with energy security, economic growth and social development,” he said.
