The European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance is set to host a high-level conference and training in Accra, Ghana, from 5 to 7 July 2023.
In anticipation of this event, Renaud Dehousse (EUI), Mamadou Biteye (African Capacity Building Foundation), Peter Quartey (Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research at the University of Ghana), and Ignacio Perez-Arriaga (African School of Regulation) have contributed an op-ed to the Ghanaian newspaper, The Business & Financial Times. The article by the leadership of the organisations behind the event and training in Accra explores strategies for unlocking Africa's energy potential.
The piece highlights the urgent need to address Africa's energy crisis, which encompasses both global and continent-specific challenges. These challenges include climate change concerns, limited access to electricity, the imperative for industrialisation, and the health consequences of traditional cooking practices. While Ghana has made strides in attracting international investments in renewable energy, the op-ed notes that many other African countries face obstacles such as inadequate financing and poor regulatory frameworks.
The time has come for Africa as a whole to unlock its abundant renewable energy potential. The authors note that “Africa, home to one-sixth of the global population, accounts for less than six percent of global energy consumption and a mere two percent of cumulative global emissions. Paradoxically, Africa suffers the harshest impacts of climate change while receiving less than two percent of all renewable energy investments worldwide. This stark reality underscores the high stakes involved in achieving a sustainable energy transition across the continent.”
The article also acknowledges Africa's favourable position, with ample renewable energy resources, to generate millions of jobs, drive economic growth, and improve public health across its countries.
Lastly, the op-ed emphasises that Africa's sustainable energy transition is not only crucial for the continent's economic and social development but also for addressing the challenges of climate change globally.
Read the full op-ed here to delve deeper into the critical importance of unlocking Africa's energy potential.
More about the event and training in Accra
Recognising the importance of international collaboration, the European University Institute's School of Transnational Governance (EUI STG) has teamed up with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the University of Ghana’s Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER), and the African School of Regulation (ASR) fora high-level conference and executive training programme in Accra, Ghadna on 5-7 July 2023. The event will bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable energy sector in West Africa, with a specific focus on climate finance.
Following the conference, a dedicated training programme will equip professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to develop financially viable projects that unlock Africa's potential in its journey towards a net-zero future.
Visit www.eui.eu/ghana for more information about the event and training.