Ghana and Switzerland have jointly launched a landmark National Clean Energy Programme (NCEP) that will unlock about $200 million in investment to install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems nationwide, marking the country’s first clean energy project implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The initiative, spearheaded by the KliK Foundation in collaboration with Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition (MoEnGT), aims to accelerate the adoption of clean, affordable, and inclusive renewable energy solutions in households, small businesses, and industries.
Under the programme, a portfolio of 137 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar PV systems, comprising about 4,000 installations of up to 1MW each, will be developed across the country. The project will deliver verified emission reductions while supporting livelihoods, enhancing energy security, and catalysing private sector innovation in clean energy technologies.
At the launch in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Felix Addo-Okyeireh, Deputy Executive Director of the EPA, said the NCEP represented “a significant step forward in Ghana’s climate action and clean energy transition.”
“This programme is a tangible example of how Ghana is leveraging the international carbon market under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Through rigorous monitoring and reporting, we will ensure that all emission reductions are real, measurable, and credible,” he stated.
Mr. Addo-Okyeireh noted that Ghana’s cooperation with Switzerland on carbon markets began in 2020 through the signing of a bilateral agreement, ratified by Parliament, and followed by a roadmap that paved the way for several mitigation projects, including the Solar PV Rooftop Programme being launched.
He said Ghana’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aim to reduce 64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e) by 2030, adding that initiatives like the NCEP were key to meeting those commitments.
In an address delivered on his behalf Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, described the programme as a “major step toward achieving a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive energy future for Ghana.”
He lauded the Swiss Government and the KliK Foundation for their partnership and financial commitment, saying the collaboration demonstrated how international cooperation could unlock capital for climate-positive investments.
“The global energy transition is accelerating, and Ghana is positioning itself to benefit. The National Clean Energy Programme supports our Energy Transition Framework and our NDC goals, while promoting innovation, job creation, and sustainable development,” the Minister said.
He announced that the Ministry had adopted a new name, Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, to reflect its strengthened mandate to drive sustainability, renewable energy adoption, and climate-resilient energy development.
Mr Jinapor, said Ghana’s National Energy Transition Framework (NETF) provides a roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, targeting 10 percent modern renewable energy integration by 2030 and near-universal electricity access.
The Ministry is also updating the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) to guide investments and partnerships between 2026 and 2030.
He noted that private sector participation would be central to the programme’s success, citing ongoing reforms such as net-metering, incentives for local manufacturing, and the establishment of a Renewable Energy Investment and Green Transition Fund to support off-grid and mini-grid projects in underserved areas.
“The government cannot do this alone. We invite private investors, development partners, and innovators to join hands in building a cleaner, safer, and more prosperous Ghana,” the Minister urged.
Ms Simone Giger,the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, said the programme was part of a long-standing partnership between the two countries, established through one of the world’s first bilateral climate agreements signed five years ago.
She explained commended Ghana for achieving close to 90 per cent electricity access, describing it as a remarkable milestone in inclusive development.
She said the project demonstrates how international collaboration can translate ambition into action by mobilizing $200 million in investments for 4,000 rooftop solar installations generating 137 megawatts of clean energy.
The Ambassador reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s green growth agenda, saying, “Ghana is climbing the right tree, the tree of clean and sustainable energy, and Switzerland is proud to lend its push of support through partnership, investment, and shared expertise.”
However, Ms Giger noted that 64 percent of Ghana’s electricity generation still comes from fossil fuels, a trend that has risen from below 50 percent a decade ago.
This, She said, underscores the urgency of accelerating Ghana’s transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy system, given the risks associated with volatile fuel prices and supply disruptions.
She said Ghana was well positioned to lead Africa’s low-carbon transition due to its abundant renewable energy resources and clear policy direction through the Energy Transition Framework and NDCs.
The NCEP marks the first rooftop solar PV programme under Article 6 in Ghana, and the second of its kind globally, reinforcing Ghana’s position as a leader in climate cooperation and market-based carbon finance mechanisms in Africa.
