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The Country Lead of Ocean Centres Ghana, Dr Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah, has stressed the need for Ghana to act decisively in embracing clean energy, describing it as the country’s greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century.
The Country Lead of Ocean Centres Ghana, Dr Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah, has stressed the need for Ghana to act decisively in embracing clean energy, describing it as the country’s greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century.
Briefing journalists in Accra, Dr Mbiah cautioned that continued reliance on fossil fuels was not only environmentally harmful but also undermining national development and locking Ghana into long-term economic risks.
“In 2023 alone, clean energy drove 10 per cent of global GDP growth. Even traditional fossil fuel strongholds like Texas are now leading in renewables, not out of ideology, but because it makes economic sense,” he said.
Dr Mbiah emphasised that the clean energy transition goes beyond climate action. Renewables provide energy security, job creation, and economic resilience.
“Despite holding 60 per cent of the world’s best solar potential, Africa receives only 2 per cent of global clean energy investment,” he noted.
He urged Ghana to submit an ambitious and bankable Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) ahead of COP30 in Brazil, one that aligns with the country’s development priorities.
He also called for urgent investment in national grid infrastructure, energy storage, and workforce training programmes to support a just and inclusive transition.
“This is our moment. The fossil fuel era is fading. Ghana must not be left behind, urging leaders to align policy, finance, and innovation to power Ghana’s energy future.” He said
Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, Mr Tolu Kwaku Lacroix, announced the upcoming launch of the Ocean Centre in Ghana—a strategic initiative aimed at advancing renewable energy and sustainable blue economy projects.
Scheduled to open on July 31 at the African Regent Hotel in Accra, the Ocean Centre will coordinate key maritime and coastal development efforts. These include aquaculture, offshore wind and solar projects, port modernisation, and blue finance initiatives.
“The global blue economy could be worth over $6 trillion, and Ghana must act now to benefit. The Centre will serve as a national hub for knowledge-sharing, innovation, and strategic collaboration,” he said
He called on both government and private sector actors to step up investments in green infrastructure and coastal resilience, adding that the Centre will also support efforts to ensure food security and low-carbon growth across Ghana’s marine spaces.
As the country prepares for COP30 and the opening of the Ocean Centre, stakeholders from across policy, industry, and civil society are being urged to treat the energy transition not just as an environmental imperative, but as a strategic development pathway
