Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has cautioned that Africa will not embrace an energy transition that worsens inequality and denies citizens access to reliable power.

Speaking at the 31st Africa Oil Week in Accra on Monday, September 15, he said Africa’s peculiar challenges must guide the global shift towards clean energy.

He pointed out that more than 600 million Africans still live without electricity, describing the situation as a barrier to education, healthcare, economic growth, and human dignity.

“Over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity. This is not just a statistic; it is a barrier to education, healthcare, economic growth, and human dignity. Our duty, first and foremost, is to them,” he stressed.

Mr Jinapor insisted that Africa’s vast oil and gas resources must be harnessed responsibly to bridge the energy gap. He said Ghana’s Gas-to-Power policy was one example of using indigenous resources to drive sustainable growth.

“Africa cannot accept a transition that sidelines development, exacerbates poverty, and ignores the stark energy deficiency that still grips our continent,” he warned, calling on global leaders to adopt a more balanced approach.