Ghana Expands Renewable Investments in 2026 Budget as COP30 Negotiations Intensify Global Pressure on SDG7

Ghana’s 2026 Budget places renewed emphasis on clean-energy expansion, outlining plans to scale up solar deployment, extend off-grid electrification and cut the cost of renewable power generation. Presenting the budget to Parliament, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said government is prioritising sustainable energy as part of efforts to stabilise the power sector. He explained that tariffs for renewable plants had been revised to reduce financial pressure on the system, noting that “the tariffs for the two renewable plants were reduced from 18 cents to 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour to reduce the cost of power generation.”

Dr. Forson also highlighted Ghana’s increasing investment in solar infrastructure. He reported that government has already installed more than 1,900 solar streetlights and will deploy “an additional 10,000 smart solar units in 2026” to boost public lighting and reduce reliance on the national grid. The budget further notes that government “will continue the programme of extending off-grid solar to hard-to-reach communities,” underscoring efforts to improve energy access in remote areas.

As part of plans to diversify Ghana’s renewable energy mix, the Ministry of Energy is advancing feasibility studies for small hydropower projects. Dr. Forson stated that “feasibility studies on the potential for mini-hydroelectric plants on the Red Volta and other southern river systems are progressing,” signalling an intention to widen the scope of clean-energy generation beyond solar. He reaffirmed Ghana’s long-term commitment to renewable energy, emphasising that “Ghana aims to raise renewable energy’s share to 10 percent by 2030.”

The direction outlined in the budget closely aligns with discussions at the ongoing COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil, where global delegates have stressed the need for countries to accelerate renewable deployment in order to close the gap in achieving SDG7. Talks in Brazil have focused heavily on scaling up solar integration, decentralising energy systems and improving affordability for communities left behind.

Ghana’s emphasis on tariff reductions, expanded solar installations and off-grid solutions mirrors the priorities emerging from COP30, where negotiators continue to push for rapid, equitable and community-focused energy transitions.