By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana is set to roll out solar-powered irrigation pumps to boost agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on rain-fed farming, as part of its commitment to the International Solar Alliance (ISA) agenda for clean energy and climate resilience.
Speaking at the seventh meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for Africa in Accra, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, said the government was prioritising year-round farming to improve food security and livelihoods.
“For close to six months during the dry season, our farmers virtually have nothing to do because they depend on rain-fed agriculture,” the minister explained. “By installing these solar pumps, Ghanaians will be able to engage in productive all-year-round farming. We have signed MoUs, and India has agreed to collaborate with us to install these pumps.”
The Ministerial Session on the African Solar Facility (ASF) focused on mobilising domestic finance to scale up solar deployment. Ministers and partners endorsed an ecosystem approach to ensure bankable projects, with emphasis on transparent procurement, secure payment systems, and targeted equity support. Delegates also highlighted the need to leverage local financial systems, strengthen public-private partnerships, and use catalytic finance to crowd in private capital.
Director-General of the ISA, Ashish Khanna, announced the launch of a $200 million catalytic finance facility to accelerate solar adoption across Africa, with $75 million to be operationalised before the end of 2025.
“We were proud and privileged to have 19 ministers from African countries and 39 countries represented,” he said. “They heard and ratified ISA’s strategy of moving from ambition to action with the African Solar Facility. The initiative will leverage over $800 million in decentralised renewable energy investments from the private sector, beginning with the first fund in Nigeria.”
Officials concluded that the ASF will serve as a key instrument for scalable, sustainable, and bankable solar projects, advancing ISA’s action-oriented, country-led agenda.
For Ghana, the deployment of solar irrigation pumps is expected to transform the agriculture sector, building resilience against climate change while strengthening food production and rural incomes.
