Ghana Unveils US$200m Nuclear Readiness Plan and Power Generation Projects

The government of Ghana has announced plans to invest in new power generation, grid modernisation, and nuclear energy development as part of efforts to secure the country's energy future and support industrialisation. Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson outlined the third pillar of the New Economy Programme, which focuses on energy sovereignty and affordable electricity, while presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

As part of the programme, the government plans to begin construction in December 2026 of a 1,450-megawatt state-owned thermal power plant at Kafuti Abrubano in the Central Region. The project, which will be fully funded and owned by the state, is expected to be completed in two phases, with the first 600 megawatts completed by December 2028 and the remaining 850 megawatts scheduled for completion by December 2030. The plant will use approximately 150 million standard cubic feet of natural gas daily from Ghana's Sankofa and Jubilee fields.

In addition to the thermal power plant, the government also plans to construct a 600-megawatt state-owned solar power plant supported by 2,000 megawatt-hours of battery storage to improve grid stability and supply electricity during peak demand. The combined investments are expected to support energy-intensive industries, including bauxite, manganese, steel, cement, and agro-processing, as well as the government's 24-hour economy initiative.

The government has also announced a US$500 million investment between 2027 and 2030 to modernise the electricity transmission network, reduce power losses, and strengthen connections between northern and southern Ghana. The programme will also include the deployment of two million prepaid electricity meters and the full implementation of performance-based private sector participation in electricity distribution by the end of 2027.

The Finance Minister said the measures are expected to address the energy sector's annual financial shortfall, which he put at approximately US$1.4 billion. The government is also targeting a reduction in the cost of power generation from approximately 16 US cents per kilowatt-hour to 8 US cents or less. This is expected to be achieved through the investments in new power generation and grid modernisation.

In a major announcement, Dr Forson said the government would invest US$200 million in a 24-month nuclear readiness programme running from January 2027 to December 2028. The programme is expected to prepare Ghana to sign an engineering, procurement, construction, and financing contract for a fully state-owned nuclear power plant by December 2028. The programme will also include training more than 2,000 scientists to develop local expertise to support the country's nuclear energy ambitions.

The broader objective of the government's energy programme is to reduce Ghana's dependence on costly emergency power plants by December 2030 and secure reliable, affordable electricity to drive industrial growth. The government believes that energy capacity is directly linked to economic growth, and the programme is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy.

Key points

• The government plans to invest US$200 million in a 24-month nuclear readiness programme.
• A 1,450-megawatt state-owned thermal power plant will be constructed at Kafuti Abrubano.
• The programme aims to reduce Ghana's dependence on costly emergency power plants by December 2030.