• Ghana will launch a digital platform to publish and centralize all Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

• The reform follows controversies over opaque contracts and costly “take-or-pay” clauses.

• The initiative aims to improve governance, public oversight, and fiscal transparency in the power sector.

The government of Ghana plans to improve transparency in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through a dedicated digital platform. Authorities are currently preparing the project to address longstanding governance concerns in the electricity sector.

Local media reported on March 19, that John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Energy, confirmed that the platform will make contracts accessible online once operational. Users will be able to consult and download the agreements.

“Any person who wishes to consult a PPA will be able to access the portal and download it,” the minister said.

The platform will allow citizens to review key contract terms, including pricing, volumes, and supply conditions. These agreements typically bind the state and independent power producers over the long term.

The government will also centralize all existing PPAs on the platform, in addition to publishing future contracts. Authorities aim to strengthen accountability and improve public understanding of energy sector commitments.

Ghana faces a history of limited transparency in its PPA framework. A March 2021 study by Energy for Growth Hub found that the country signed numerous PPAs in the early 2010s during a period of electricity shortages.

This wave of contracting created excess installed capacity and led to commitments that exceeded actual demand. Several agreements included “take-or-pay” clauses, which require the state to pay for unused electricity. These obligations generated significant fixed costs for public finances.

A 2017 report by World Bank on public-private partnership transparency found that Ghana negotiated PPAs with limited disclosure. The report stated that this lack of systematic publication weakened public oversight and reduced institutional monitoring capacity.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum