Sub-Saharan Africa has had a series of power shortages that have not helped many countries on the continent to explore the economic gains that come with sufficient use of electricity. A couple of literature have suggested that African countries have failed to meet international targets set purposively address the energy deficiency.

On comparative terms, Ghana and Kenya have been crippled with shortfall in energy generation thus both sought to look for an alternative. Kenya and Ghana resulted in to use of renewable energy as both made a conscious effort in terms of policies to employ the use of solar to salvage the energy problems.

As part of this study, a conscious attempt is made to compare how both countries have been able to deploy the use of renewable energy, especially with solar PV installations, by looking at the policies guiding the implementation of renewable energy projects. In addressing the theoretical framework underpinning the study, two theories were employed for the study namely, the Technology Acceptance Model and Implementation theory.

The study further looked at a review of literature and empirical studies that have been conducted across the world about the utilisation of solar energy. In terms of the methodology for the study, a desktop research approach was used. The research design of the study was a cumulative case study, which sought to analyse secondary data including policy documents, peer-reviewed articles, journals, annual reports of state institutions and international bodies.

The study employed the use of content analysis, which analysed documents into major themes for discussion. The study found out that Ghana could not implement policies on solar energy since much time was spent on several pilot studies being carried out on a short-term planning basis, and thus hindered Ghana‘s transition from overdependence on hydro and thermal plants for electricity generation.

Read the full study below;

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The writer is the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri