The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC) has been named Energy Think Tank of the Year at the 9th Ghana Energy Awards, held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

The award celebrates ASEC’s growing influence in shaping Africa’s energy future through policy leadership, climate-smart innovations, and evidence-based research.

Driving High-Level Energy Conversations

Over the past year, ASEC has led several major convenings, including the Africa Sustainable Energy Dialogue (ASED) under the theme “Bridging the Energy Access Gap in Africa.”
The event brought together senior leaders from institutions such as APPO, UBA Ghana, Cenpower, the Energy Commission of Ghana, the African Development Bank, the World Energy Council, and the Energy Society of South Africa. Discussions focused on accelerating partnerships and building frameworks to improve access to clean and reliable energy across the continent.

ASEC also made a strong showing on the global stage with a high-level side event during World Energy Week 2025 in Panama. Held under the theme “Wiser and Smarter Power Shifts: From Blind Spots to Bright Spots,” the session highlighted how Africa can manage rising power demand amid rapid growth in data centres and artificial intelligence. Speakers included representatives from Burns & McDonnell, Deloitte, and Ghana’s Ministry of Energy & Green Transition.

Spotlight on Innovation and Emerging Technologies

This year, the organisation launched its flagship AI for Africa Workshop, aimed at exploring how artificial intelligence can support Africa’s sustainable energy transition. The initiative strengthened digital skills and helped create pathways for integrating AI into energy planning, forecasting, and policy development.

Building Capacity for the Next Generation

ASEC’s commitment to youth development was reinforced through the ASEC Impact Fellowship, which trained more than 100 young professionals in sustainable energy. The programme equips participants with practical skills, research experience, and leadership training to prepare them for roles in Africa’s clean energy future.

Advancing African-Led Research and Insights

The organisation also launched the ASEC Energy Review, a new platform offering data-driven analysis of Africa’s energy landscape. This complements ASEC’s extensive media outreach, expert commentary, and government engagement on national energy issues.

A major milestone for the think tank was the release of the ASEC Energy Outlook, described as one of the most comprehensive African-led assessments of the continent’s energy, climate, and sustainability landscape. Covering all 54 African countries, the publication analyses nine key areas, including renewable energy, clean cooking, e-mobility, hydrogen, CCUS, emerging technologies, and climate resilience. It also identifies investment opportunities and supports continental frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.

Strengthening Regional Collaboration

ASEC further demonstrated leadership in regional energy cooperation by co-hosting the Global Grid Expansion Dialogue Series with the World Energy Council and the Energy Council of South Africa. The series explored reforms, investment models, and new technologies needed to upgrade Africa’s transmission infrastructure.

A Growing Force in Africa’s Energy Transition

The award marks a significant milestone for ASEC, acknowledging its role as a trusted and independent voice in the energy sector. According to Executive Director Ing. Justice Ohene-Akoto, the recognition reaffirms the organisation’s commitment to shaping a just, inclusive, and sustainable energy future for Ghana and the rest of the continent.