Country Brief: Sustainable Cooling for All in Ghana

This briefing by Sustainable Energy for All outlines the critical need for sustainable cooling in Ghana, highlighting the vulnerability of millions to heat risks and the projected increase in energy demand and emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) by 2050.

• A significant portion of Ghana's population faces severe risks due to inadequate cooling access. Approximately 12.9 million people are at high risk, comprising 4.17 million rural poor and 8.78 million urban poor who lack electricity or live in substandard housing. Additionally, 16.6 million lower-middle-income people are at medium risk, with women making up 51% of this group.
• Under a 'business-as-usual' scenario, the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector is projected to see a substantial rise in both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy demand is expected to grow from 7.04 TWh in 2015 to 20.9 TWh by 2050, while emissions are projected to increase from 5.05 mT CO2eq in 2015 to 12.8 mT CO2eq in 2050.
• Ghana is experiencing climate shifts that increase the necessity for cooling adaptation. Mean temperatures are projected to rise by 1.0°C to 3.0°C by mid-century and 2.3°C to 5.3°C by the end of the century. The five northern regions (Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Brong Ahafo, and Volta) are classified as having a high heat hazard, while the four coastal regions (Western, Ashanti, Eastern, Central, and Greater) have a medium heat hazard classification.
• Ghana aims for net-zero emissions by 2060 through a dramatic shift in its energy mix. By 2050, the country plans for solar energy to provide 71.4% of generation capacity, followed by hydro (13.87%), nuclear (10.24%), and onshore wind (3.86%), reducing gas use to 0.72%.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2024). Country Brief: Sustainable Cooling for All in Ghana. https://www.seforall.org/publications/country-brief-sustainable-cooling-for-all-in-ghana

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. Country Brief: Sustainable Cooling for All in Ghana. 2024. https://www.seforall.org/publications/country-brief-sustainable-cooling-for-all-in-ghana.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=Country Brief: Sustainable Cooling for All in Ghana |date=3 December 2024 |url=https://www.seforall.org/publications/country-brief-sustainable-cooling-for-all-in-ghana |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforall2024country, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{Country Brief: Sustainable Cooling for All in Ghana}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.seforall.org/publications/country-brief-sustainable-cooling-for-all-in-ghana}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }