Cassiel Ato Forson unveils 1,450MW thermal power plant for Ekafudzidzi

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a significant expansion of Ghana's energy infrastructure, headlined by the construction of a state-owned 1,450-megawatt (MW) thermal power plant in Ekafudzidzi. Speaking on November 12, 2026, Dr. Forson detailed the government's strategy to bolster national energy security and phase out reliance on costly emergency power plants by the end of the decade. The ambitious project is scheduled to begin construction in December 2026, with the first 600 MW expected to be integrated into the national grid by late 2028.

In addition to the thermal facility, the government plans to develop a 600 MW solar power facility equipped with a 2,000 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage system. This storage capacity is designed to stabilize the national grid and address the intermittent nature of solar generation, ensuring a more reliable supply for both industrial and domestic consumers. Dr. Forson emphasized that the thermal plant will be entirely state-financed, representing a strategic shift toward state-owned generation assets to reduce long-term costs and provide cheaper power for the manufacturing sector.

Beyond generation, the initiative includes a US$500 million investment between 2027 and 2030 focused on upgrading Ghana’s electricity transmission network. These upgrades are intended to improve power delivery efficiency and facilitate energy trading with neighboring countries in the West African sub-region. To tackle operational losses within the distribution sector, the government also intends to roll out 2 million prepaid meters, modernizing the billing system and improving revenue collection for the power utilities.

The overarching goal of these reforms is to terminate the use of emergency power plants by December 2030, fostering a more sustainable and cost-effective energy mix. By supporting energy-intensive industries through a stabilized power supply, the government aims to drive industrial growth and overall economic development. This expansion marks a pivotal step in President John Mahama’s administration’s efforts to ensure that Ghana’s energy sector can meet the growing demands of a modernizing economy.