Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda latest African nations to join Energy Africa initiative

Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda are the latest African nations to sign on to the Energy Africa campaign, U.K. International Development Minister Nick Hurd said on Wednesday.

These nations join Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia in the initiative, which  strives to implement solar-powered electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa, working with off-grid energy resources to overcome governmental barriers and hasten accessibility for all African households.

“I am delighted that Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda have joined the Energy Africa campaign,” Hurd said. “Together we can power up the solar markets in these countries and transform people’s lives.

“It is unacceptable that two-thirds of people in Africa do not have access to electricity,” Hurd said. “Families are forced to rely on toxic, expensive kerosene, and children cannot study after dark. On current projections, the continent will not have universal energy access until 2080. That is why we must act to kick-start a solar revolution across Africa.”


The agreements were signed by Kwabena Donkor, Ghana’s minister of power; Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika; Malawi’s minister of natural resources, energy and mining, Bright Msaka; and James Musoni, Rwanda’s minister of infrastructure, on Wednesday at the Global African Investment Summit in London.

“Now is the time to invest,” Hurd said, noting that the cost of solar equipment is decreasing, while technology continues to advance. “British businesses are already combining solar and mobile-phone technology to bring clean energy to people in Africa.”

Ghana and Malawi representatives executed Partnership Agreements, while Rwanda’s representative signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Energy Africa movement.