Energy policy analyst and Managing Partner of Arthur Energy Advisors, Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, is concerned about Ghana’s preparedness, or lack thereof, for regional electricity trade under the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP).

Speaking in the latest episode of AEA Insights, he emphasised that while Ghana is strategically positioned to become a net exporter of electricity, its internal challenges, particularly around financial discipline in the utility sector, could derail that ambition.

“We’ve always had enough generation to serve ourselves and even sell to neighbours. But the problem is we don’t collect the money,” Mr Amissah-Arthur stated in Episode 2 of the new energy-focused series.

The veteran energy consultant highlighted that until Ghana gets its power utilities, especially the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), to become financially healthy, the country risks being sidelined in the increasingly competitive regional energy market.

He pointed to ongoing power losses, weak payment enforcement, and ballooning debt as major bottlenecks that threaten Ghana’s participation in cross-border electricity trade.

“It’s not just about producing power or building lines. If you can't pay your bills, nobody wants to trade with you,” he said.

The episode, which continues the platform’s mission to unpack the evolving trends in Ghana’s energy ecosystem, also calls on policymakers to prioritise structural reforms, enforce payment discipline, and restore financial credibility to Ghana’s power utilities.

Mr Amissah-Arthur stressed that while the infrastructure exists for Ghana to trade electricity with neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, the real test lies in restoring trust and sustainability in local utility operations.