Energy policy analyst Jabesh Amissah-Arthur has raised serious concerns about Ghana’s readiness for regional electricity trade under the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP).

Speaking candidly in the latest episode of AEA Insights, Episode 2 of the energy-focused series, Amissah-Arthur warned that despite Ghana’s strategic position and sufficient generation capacity, internal challenges especially financial mismanagement in the power sector threaten the country’s ability to fully participate in cross-border electricity trade.

“We’ve always had enough generation to serve ourselves and even sell to neighbours. But the problem is we don’t collect the money,” Amissah-Arthur who doubles as the Managing Partner of Arthur Energy Advisors stated.

He stressed that until key players like the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) achieve financial sustainability, Ghana may be sidelined in the increasingly competitive West African energy market. Persistent power losses, weak payment enforcement, and a mounting sector debt are among the key bottlenecks he identified.

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

Amissah-Arthur urged policymakers to focus on structural reforms, enforce payment discipline, and restore financial credibility within the sector.

He noted that while Ghana has the infrastructure to export electricity to neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, trust and financial reliability are what will ultimately determine Ghana’s success in the WAPP framework.

AM/KA

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