Ghana’s energy sector is such that the government is involved in the processes of energy production, distribution, and trade. Energy is sourced from both renewables and fossil fuels, which form the basis of the
in the country. Gas represents the largest source of
Rising renewable energy capacity and fossil fuel production
The
renewable energy capacity in Ghana stood at close to 1,700 megawatts in 2022, having followed an increasing trend since 2012. This means that the capacity for renewable energy production has experienced growth over the last years.
Hydropower and
solar power are some of the main renewable energy sources in the country, although the latter has a relatively lower generation capacity. Fossil fuels have also progressively contributed to Ghana’s national energy production mix. In 2023, the country produced around 2.9 million metric tons of oil equivalent of
natural gas, while as of 2020, the
crude oil output amounted to 173,000 barrels per day. Overall, energy sources have played a role in increasing carbon dioxide (CO
2) emissions in Ghana and Africa. In
West Africa alone, nearly 190 million metric tons of CO
2 were released from these sources in 2023, indicating the growing need for a renewable energy approach.
Increasing energy supply and consumption
Among Ghana’s energy consumers, including industries and residents, energy supply is crucial for constant and efficient consumption. In 2022, the
country supplied more than 12 million metric tons of oil equivalent of energy, which was an all-time high compared to the five preceding years. Specifically, in 2022, the total energy supply from
natural gas and
hydro sources reached approximately three million metric tons of oil equivalent and 700,000 metric tons of oil equivalent, respectively. In terms of consumption, the total amount of
primary energy consumed amounted to 114 terawatt hours as of 2021, translating to about 3,500 kilowatt hours
per capita. Ghana’s
final energy consumption, which refers to what is consumed by end users, reached around 8.7 million tons of oil equivalent in 2022. Petroleum and biomass were the
most consumed energy products.
The country trades in electricity and fossil fuels
As of 2023, Ghana’s trade in electrical energy consisted of a larger volume of
exports than
imports, producing a positive trade balance. The country has neighboring countries that depend on it for electricity supply, including Benin, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire. For instance, in 2020, the Burkina Faso-owned electricity company, SONABEL,
imported electricity from Ghana worth around 990 gigawatt hours. In terms of fossil fuels, the volume of
crude oil exports from Ghana has remained higher than the
quantity imported since 2018. Moreover, the country imported almost 20 trillion British thermal units of
natural gas in 2022.
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Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
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