Story by Paul Mensah Nsor
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has announced the launch of the Africa Solar Facility, a catalytic finance initiative totaling $200 million, aimed at accelerating decentralized renewable energy investments across Africa. The first $75 million is set to be operational by the end of 2025, with the goal of leveraging over $800 million in private sector investments.
ISA Director General Ashish Khanna revealed that the facility’s inaugural fund will begin in Nigeria, marking a significant step toward expanding clean energy access on the continent. The initiative comes as Africa faces a stark energy gap, with 680 million people lacking reliable electricity and some of the world’s highest energy tariffs.
To build local capacity, ISA will establish 12 Solar Technology Application Resource Centers across Africa by 2025, including a flagship center in Ghana. These centers will focus on training, testing, and youth incubation, equipping Africans with advanced skills through master’s programs and a new global capability center on digitization and artificial intelligence. The center, drawing on India’s expertise, aims to help Africa leapfrog into the digital energy future.
ISA also signed country partnership frameworks with Ghana, Nigeria, and Gambia, outlining detailed strategies for large-scale solar projects, solar pumps, and distributed renewable energy over the next three to five years.
Highlighting the urgent need for private sector involvement, Khanna noted that only 2% of the $2.2 trillion invested globally in clean energy last year went to Africa. The ISA’s commitment, he said, is to ensure faster, more affordable energy access for all Africans by 2030, integrating solar into each country’s least-cost generation plan.
The announcement was met with strong support from participating countries, signaling a new era of collaboration and investment in Africa’s clean energy future.
At the Seventh Meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for the Africa Region, Ghana’s Minister of Energy, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, announced ambitious plans to expand the country’s use of solar energy through a new partnership with India. Speaking at a press briefing, Minister Jinapor highlighted Ghana’s progress toward universal electricity access and stable power supply, noting that the country is now even exporting electricity.
The Minister emphasized the importance of clean, reliable, and affordable energy for Africa’s development, identifying solar power as the most viable option. “Africa has huge challenges when it comes to energy security,” Jinapor said. “If the continent wishes to achieve its aspirations, the provision of reliable, dependable, and affordable, but clean energy is key.”
A key initiative under the new partnership is the deployment of solar-powered irrigation pumps across Ghana, particularly in regions affected by long dry seasons. This move aims to enable year-round agricultural production, reducing farmers’ dependence on rain-fed agriculture. “India has pioneered this technology, and we want to learn from them,” Jinapor stated, adding that agreements and MOUs have already been signed.
The collaboration will also focus on promoting local content by training Ghanaian artisans and technicians to install and maintain solar technology. In addition, the government plans to roll out solar rooftop solutions for critical institutions and expand off-grid solar solutions to areas without electricity.
Minister Jinapor expressed gratitude to his colleagues and the press, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable energy development.