Gov’t Deploys 23,500 Solar Streetlights to Ease Grid Pressure by 300MW – Energy Minister

Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Jinapor, has announced a nationwide shift to solar-powered street lighting to help ease the burden on Ghana’s national power grid and promote energy efficiency.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 16, Mr. Jinapor revealed that the government has started installing 23,500 all-in-one solar streetlights across a 700-kilometre stretch nationwide.

“This marks a major shift toward solar energy as we work to move our street lighting systems off the national grid,” the Minister said.

He explained that streetlights currently rely heavily on grid power and significantly increase electricity demand during peak evening hours.

“These lights come on during peak periods, contributing over 200 megawatts to demand. The gap between peak and off-peak demand can reach 400–600 megawatts. So shifting to solar can help reduce this load by as much as 200–300 megawatts,” Mr. Jinapor noted.

The solar project, he added, is a key part of the Mahama administration’s broader strategy to cut reliance on fossil fuels, promote renewable energy, and improve power system resilience—especially during high-demand hours.