The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, during the seventh regional meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for Africa, has announced government plans to introduce solar-powered irrigation pumps nationwide to improve agricultural productivity.
He revealed that the project aims to reduce farmers’ dependence on rain-fed agriculture and strengthen the sector’s flexibility. He assured that the government is ready to begin deploying the pumps across the country following productive discussions with the ISA Director-General.
The minister noted that in some regions, farmers are left idle for up to six months during the dry season due to lack of rainfall, and Ghana intends to learn from India’s successful solar irrigation model and has signed agreements to collaborate on the initiative.
The minister added that the solar pumps will enable year-round farming for many communities.
Meanwhile, ISA Director-General Ashish Khanna announced a $200 million funding facility to support solar energy adoption across Africa. He said the first $75 million will be released before the end of 2025, starting with Nigeria, and is expected to attract over $800 million in private investment.
Khanna shared that 19 African ministers and representatives from 39 countries attended the meeting and endorsed ISA’s strategy to shift from planning to implementation. The African Solar Facility (ASF), a blended finance initiative, will help reduce investment risks, mobilize local resources, and attract private capital.
The ministerial session emphasized the importance of transparent procurement, secure payment systems, and equity support to make solar projects more attractive to investors. Public-private partnerships and catalytic financing were highlighted as key drivers for scaling up renewable energy across the continent.
The ASF is expected to play a central role in delivering sustainable, scalable, and bankable solar energy.
Author: Jasmine Adjei
Development journalist
