According to her, Africa was not lacking in energy resources, but rather in systems that connect and make full use of these resources.

In a speech read on her behalf by Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo at the Africa Energy Technology Conference 2025 held in Accra yesterday, she said it was time for Africa to take charge of its energy future by focusing on integration, innovation, and investment.

“Africa has an abundance of sun, wind, water, and valuable minerals like lithium and cobalt that can power both homes and industries, yet millions of Africans remain without reliable energy access,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, stated.

She stressed that Africa should no longer stay on the sidelines of the global energy market, but instead, the continent must rise to lead in clean and sustainable energy development.

The Vice President emphasised the country’s strong support for re­gional energy cooperation through efforts like the West African Power Pool and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She said the AfCFTA platform was essential for building a shared energy future where no African country or citizen was left behind.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang men­tioned country’s ongoing invest­ments to link its energy infrastruc­ture with neighbouring countries as part of regional effort on power integration.

The Vice President also touched on the importance of clean cook­ing solutions, stating that “Energy sustainability begins at home.”

“Ghana is taking major steps to reduce reliance on harmful fuels by promoting the use of cleaner liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and distributing improved cook stoves to households,” she said.

She cited programmes such as the National LPG Promotion Policy, the Cylinder Recirculation Model, and partnerships with the World Bank and South Korea’s Cli­mate Change Center as proof of Ghana’s commitment to cleaner, safer cooking methods, especially for women and children.

Turning to country’s mineral wealth, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang announced that the country was home to valuable materials needed for modern clean technologies, including lithium, cobalt, and graphite.

The Vice President emphasised that the government’s goal was not to export these minerals in their raw forms but to process them locally, create jobs, and retain more of the wealth within the country and Africa as a whole.

To make this vision a reality, she called for increased public-private partnerships that ensured local involvement, along with legal and financial structures that made investing in country’s energy and mining sectors safer and more attractive.

The Vice President reaffirmed the country’s goal to achieve 10 per cent of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, as outlined in the Renewable Energy Master Plan.

She said the target was not just realistic but necessary if Ghana and the rest of Africa were to achieve long-term energy security and sustainability.