A Critical Review and Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges for Just Transitions in Ghana

The report analyzes Ghana's efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, focusing on the National Energy Transition Framework (NETF) and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While official goals align with international standards and stakeholder expectations for green job creation and sustainability, significant gaps exist. These include a contradiction between renewable energy goals and continued fossil fuel investments, such as a $12 billion oil refinery deal. Key barriers include a public debt level of 83.60% of GDP, regulatory inconsistencies, and an outdated power grid. The report recommends that the UNFCCC's Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) provide support in policy reform, financial mobilization, and technology transfer to help Ghana achieve net-zero energy-related emissions by 2060.

• Ghana's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64 MtCO₂e by 2030, with the goal of creating over one million jobs and preventing 2,900 deaths through improved air quality.
• The National Energy Transition Framework (NETF) targets net zero emissions by 2070, while the subsequent National Energy Transition Investment Plan (September 2023) increases this ambition to achieve net-zero energy-related carbon emissions by 2060, requiring an estimated $562 billion in investment.
• Financial constraints are a primary barrier to Ghana's energy transition, exacerbated by a public debt level that stands at 83.60% of the country's gross domestic product.
• Regulatory inconsistencies and bureaucratic hurdles are significant barriers; the government failed to meet its 2020 target of 10% renewable energy in the national energy mix, with the actual share remaining below 1% as of 2020.
• There is a critical divergence between Ghana's long-term sustainability goals and its immediate economic actions, specifically a $12 billion deal with the TCP-UIC Consortium to build oil refineries and petrochemical plants to become a petroleum hub in West Africa.
• Ghana possesses significant untapped renewable energy potential, including solar irradiance averaging 4.5–5.6 kWh/m²/day, wind speeds of 6–8 m/s in coastal and highland areas, and a technical potential for small hydropower of approximately 800 MW.

APA

Anku, N. E. L. (2024). A Critical Review and Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges for Just Transitions in Ghana. Climate Strategies. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/A-Critical-Review-and-Analysis-of-Opportunities-and-Challenges-for-Just-Transitions-in-Ghana-2.pdf

Chicago

Anku, Nerissa Edem Lawrencia. A Critical Review and Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges for Just Transitions in Ghana. Climate Strategies, 2024. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/A-Critical-Review-and-Analysis-of-Opportunities-and-Challenges-for-Just-Transitions-in-Ghana-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Anku |first1=Nerissa Edem Lawrencia |title=A Critical Review and Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges for Just Transitions in Ghana |publisher=Climate Strategies |date=2024 |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/A-Critical-Review-and-Analysis-of-Opportunities-and-Challenges-for-Just-Transitions-in-Ghana-2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{anku2024critical, author = {Anku, Nerissa Edem Lawrencia}, title = {{A Critical Review and Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges for Just Transitions in Ghana}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, year = {2024}, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/A-Critical-Review-and-Analysis-of-Opportunities-and-Challenges-for-Just-Transitions-in-Ghana-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }