ACEES urges gov’t to introduce incentives to boost solar energy adoption
This, according to ACEES, is critical to accelerating the country’s transition toward renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
The African Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (ACEES) is calling on the government to introduce tax incentives, subsidies, and accessible financing schemes to promote the purchase and use of solar products.
This, according to ACEES, is critical to accelerating the country’s transition toward renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday, July 16, 2025, the Executive Director of ACEES, Nurideen Abdulai, expressed deep concern over Ghana’s failure to meet its 2020 target of achieving 10% solar energy usage nationwide.
He warned that unless bold, pragmatic measures are taken, even the revised 2030 target may be missed.
“If you look at the statistics, you see that our target in 2020 was to have 10% of people using electricity being on solar, but we couldn’t get that,”
“We had to move it to 2030, which means we have not been performing well. Even with 2030, if we don’t take pragmatic steps, we will not achieve it.” Abdulai said.
Abdulai suggested a raft of policy interventions to make solar energy more accessible and affordable, including the removal of import duties on solar equipment.
“Government have to give some incentives, maybe we can take off some of the duties on solar products so that they will become cheaper and more competitive for Ghana to be able to upgrade on solar,” he said.
As part of ACEES’ nationwide solar energy assessment project, Abdulai and his team are currently in Navrongo, in the Upper East Region. He praised the area for its impressive adoption of solar technology, highlighting it as a model for other regions.
“Navrongo is ahead of some of the regions or cities when it comes to solar usage in Ghana, which means the drive is already on. The people of Navrongo should ensure environmental sustainability, and sustainability means meeting today’s needs without jeopardising the needs of the future generation.”
Abdulai also underscored the broader environmental implications of solar energy adoption. He stressed that increased use of renewable energy would reduce Ghana’s reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Mike 105.3 FM | Navrongo | Alexander Bombande
