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Ghana’s energy sector stands at a critical crossroads, aiming to increase renewable energy (RE) from 3% to 10% of its energy mix by 2030, as part of its broader National Energy Transition Framework and climate commitments. Despite ambitious targets, including scaling RE to 21GW by 2070—progress has been slow due to systemic challenges such as high financing costs, limited infrastructure, and policy implementation gaps. Solar PV and electric vehicles (EVs) offer transformative potential but face barriers like high import duties, lack of skilled technicians, and inadequate public awareness. The dominance of thermal energy (69%) and the minimal share of solar (0.3%) highlight the urgency for reform. To accelerate the transition, Ghana must operationalize net metering, reduce financial barriers, and invest in workforce development and infrastructure. These coordinated efforts are essential to unlock the environmental and economic benefits of RE and position Ghana for a more sustainable energy future.
Swisscontact’s Strategy 2028 places climate change at its core, and the Ghana Energy Project (GEP) directly supports this by advancing renewable energy (RE) and sustainable agriculture, particularly in the cocoa sector. The project contributes to Swisscontact’s evolving Green Skills and Jobs (GSJ) initiative by addressing key challenges in the RE sector, such as limited innovative financing, the need for new business models, and workforce upskilling. GEP will start by focusing on three intervention areas: innovative financing mechanisms, business development, and capacity building. These efforts aim to stimulate demand for RE by de-risking investments, promoting productive energy use, and equipping the workforce with solar energy skills. The project aligns with Ghana’s goal of achieving a 10% renewable energy mix by 2030 and is part of Swisscontact Ghana’s broader Umbrella Approach, which spans five economic sectors. The Theory of Change for the RE pillar underpins GEP’s strategy and is intended to attract further support to expand its impact.
The Green Economy Project (GEP), implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, runs from 2025 to 2028. It aims to enhance renewable energy adoption, support job creation, and strengthen skills development all in service of Ghana’s transition to a greener, more inclusive, and sustainable future.
The Green Economy Project focuses on three key intervention areas:
Financing Mechanism: 2
There is widespread hesitation to invest in RE systems. During the Dumsor1 era, companies and individuals showed strong interest, but unreliable solutions and poor maintenance from RE providers eroded trust. As a result, businesses are now even more reluctant to invest.
GEP aims to overcome this barrier by a) Conducting third-party energy assessments to build confidence; b) Recommending reliable installers; and c) Connecting clients to financiers, including green finance options to offset costs.
The Ghana Energy Project (GEP) supports the creation of an Investment Readiness Platform by the Energy Services Center (ESC) of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), aimed at enabling companies and individuals to access discounted renewable energy (RE) assessments. Currently, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) base RE investment decisions on personal interest rather than strategic analysis, leading to low uptake of feasibility studies that are essential for evaluating energy needs, infrastructure costs, and return on investment. These assessments not only guide informed decision-making but also enhance credibility with investors and financial institutions. Through the platform, participants will gain access to qualified technicians and financing options, helping them adopt cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions.
New Business Development
The expansion of new markets will drive job creation, and GEP is focused on unlocking opportunities in the RE sector. To foster innovation, GEP is piloting new ideas, including the establishment of GreenTech Hubs—an innovative franchise business model by Electro Recycling Ghana (ERG).
The GreenTech Hub is an innovative micro-business model designed to address the growing challenges of e-waste management in Ghana while creating sustainable employment opportunities. Each GreenTech Hub operates from a compact 3x3 meter container, strategically placed in communities providing multiple essential services related to electronic devices and green technology.
Capacity and Skills Development
GEP will partner with ESC Energy Services Centre to raise awareness about upskilling needs, supporting initiatives such as the AGI (Association of Ghana Industries) annual RE expo and other promotional events. Additionally, GEP will help enhance ESC’s existing emission accounting training, equipping professionals with advanced skills to identify further carbon reduction opportunities. This will encourage greater adoption of RE systems, fostering market growth and increasing the demand for trained professionals.
GEP will work with two target groups, a) semi-skilled workers in the energy sector; and b) green users (individual households, SMEs (Commercial and Industrial (C&I), schools, hospitals etc.).
12,400 semi-skilled workers and 16,200 green users will have accessed services because of GEP interventions
A total of 452 semi-skilled workers and 10,580 Green Users will have benefited from using the green services offered by the various service providers.