Share of population with access to electricity in Ghana 2008-2021
As of 2021, over 86 percent of the population in Ghana had access to electricity, which represented an increase compared to the 85.4 percent registered in the previous year. Between 2008 and 2021, the share of the population with access to electricity rose considerably from a low of 60.5 percent to the said value in 2021. Access to electricity is higher in urban areas compared to rural communities.
Production of electricity
Ghana's electricity is produced from sources such as fossil fuels, solar power, water, gas, and coal. For instance, in 2020, around 57,000 kilowatt hours net of electricity was sourced from solar energy. In total, the country produced approximately 12.5 billion kilowatt hours of electrical energy in 2020. Compared to a decade before, the generation of electricity increased.
Electricity contributes to trade and economy
Ghana not only produces electricity, but also serves as an important supplier among neighboring countries such as Togo, Benin, and Mali. In 2020, around 187 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy were exported from the country. However, the rate of delivery declined in comparison to previous years. Electricity contributed an estimated 2.1 billion Ghanaian cedis - approximately 360 million U.S. dollars - to Ghana’s GDP in 2020.
