Cassiel Ato Forson announces 1,450MW thermal plant to end emergency power

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a comprehensive strategy to achieve energy sovereignty for Ghana by 2030, headlined by the construction of a new 1,450-megawatt (MW) state-owned thermal power plant. Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on November 12, 2026, Dr. Forson explained that the move is designed to eliminate the country’s reliance on costly emergency power arrangements and end the $1.4 billion annual bailouts currently required to cover financial shortfalls in the energy sector.

The centerpiece of this energy transition is the Ekafudzidzi thermal plant, which is scheduled to break ground in December 2026. In a shift from previous financing models, Dr. Forson stated that the project will be fully state-funded to avoid adding to the national debt. The government expects the first 600MW phase of the plant to be operational by December 2028, reaching its full 1,450MW capacity by the end of 2030. To complement this, the government will also develop a 600MW solar facility equipped with a battery storage system to stabilize the national grid and support sustainable energy goals.

Beyond generation, the budget outlines a $500 million investment to modernize Ghana's electricity transmission infrastructure. These upgrades are intended to reduce technical losses and improve the overall reliability of the supply. Dr. Forson also revealed plans to introduce private sector participation in the distribution of electricity by the end of 2027. This reform aims to improve efficiency and revenue collection within the distribution network, which has historically been a point of financial leakage for the state.

The government’s energy roadmap is a critical component of President John Mahama’s broader agenda for industrial development and the implementation of a 24-hour economy. By ensuring a steady, lower-cost electricity supply, the administration hopes to create a more competitive environment for local manufacturing and business operations. The thermal plant will require approximately 150 million standard cubic feet of gas daily at full capacity, underscoring the government's commitment to utilizing domestic natural resources to fuel national growth.