"In this regard, government with support from the World Bank, is currently working towards a feasibility and investment planning study, to clearly define the strategic pathway, and the required resources for electrifying the last mile, and achieving universal access."

Professor (Prof) Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said this on Tuesday, in a speech he read on behalf of Mr. Yaw Osafo-Marfo, Senior Minister, at the launch of the World Bank Mini Grid Report in Accra.

The report was launched at the on-going Ghana Universal Access and mini-Grids session of the Fifth Mini Grid Action Learning event, which is taking place in Accra.

The Minister said currently, national electricity access stood at 85 per cent and government had set a target of 90 per cent by 2025.

"The actions we are taking in the area of Mini Grid and other forms of electrification, are not only to provide access to affordable electricity, they are also to reduce our carbon foot prints," he said.

"We are being encouraged by the big polluters of the environment to transition from a fossil powered economy to green economy. We are doing a lot but we need to access international climate financing if we are to use green energy for our base load."

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said whilst universal access was an imperative for the realisation of the development aspirations of all developing countries, it was incumbent on countries working towards universal electricity access to pursue their goals sustainably.

The Minister said he was of the hope that the success factors shared from Ghana's experience would inspire efforts being made by other countries to achieve universal access.

Mr. Rohit Khanna, Practice Manager at the Fifth Annual Learning Event on Mini Grids and Reaching Universal Access to Energy in Ghana by 2020, who presented the report dubbed, "Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers, said "it is the most comprehensive study on mini grades to date."

He said estimates showed that to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, 40 per cent of all installed capacity would have to come from mini grids.

Mr. Khana said mini grids were the best option for servicing remote areas that were too expensive for the main grid to reach, but had large enough energy demand and population to sustain mini grid operation.

He said mini grids could promote inclusive growth and strengthen human capital. "They can provide high-quality and reliable electricity to poor communities in rural areas, to support entrepreneurial activities and job creation

Africa is set to experience the most growth in mini grid deployment, said Mr. Khana, adding that, "currently, more than 4.000 mini grids are being planned for development in Africa, representing 54 per cent of the total 7,507 planned mini grids globally.

The report provides policy makers, investors and developers with insights on how mini grids can be scaled up.

It takes stock of the global market and industry, analyses costs and technological innovations, and shows the importance of microfinance and income-generating uses of electricity.