Leaders in energy, finance, policy, and civil society gathered at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Tuesday for the Future of Energy Conference (FEC) 2025, under the theme “Financing Africa’s Energy Future: Unlocking Investments for Energy Access and Economic Transformation.”
The high-level dialogue, convened by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) and its partners, brought together policymakers, captains of industry, development partners, academia, and civil society to deliberate on Africa’s urgent energy financing needs.
Speakers emphasized that no economy can thrive without reliable and affordable energy. With more than 600 million Africans still without electricity and over one billion relying on biomass for cooking, the urgency of addressing energy poverty was underscored.
“Energy poverty does not only constrains growth but also perpetuates inequality. Making Africa’s energy sector sustainable is not optional—it is imperative if the continent is to drive inclusive growth and secure its rightful place in the global economy,” one keynote speaker remarked.
Delegates called for stronger collaboration between governments, the private sector, and multilateral partners to unlock investments. Governments were urged to ensure policy clarity and regulatory stability; private investors to bring innovation and capital; and international partners to expand concessional and blended financing mechanisms.
Ghana’s experience with renegotiated power purchase agreements was highlighted as a case study of balancing affordability, investor confidence, and fiscal sustainability.
The conference spotlighted several initiatives by Ghana that align with Africa’s broader energy transition agenda, including:
- An Energy Transition Framework for decarbonizing power and petroleum sectors.
- A Renewable Energy and Green Transition Fund to mobilize capital for low-carbon infrastructure.
- Expansion of utility-scale solar projects and mini-grids in underserved communities.
- The Ghana Nuclear Power Programme to provide reliable base-load energy.
- Regional power integration under the West African Power Pool.
- Exploration of carbon markets and climate finance to fund sustainable energy access.
These initiatives, participants noted, position Ghana as a leading voice in Africa’s energy transformation.
While advocating for cleaner energy, speakers stressed that Africa’s transition must be just and inclusive. Unlike developed economies, many African nations are still struggling to meet basic energy needs.
“Our transition must not undermine energy affordability, jobs, or industrial competitiveness. Local processing of critical minerals, clean technology manufacturing, and skills development must be integral to Africa’s pathway,” participants agreed, citing opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The conference concluded with a resounding call to mobilize innovative financing tools such as green bonds, carbon trading, and climate funds, while ensuring policy predictability and de-risking mechanisms to attract investors.
