The government has announced a comprehensive plan to replace all conventional grid-powered streetlights with solar-powered systems nationwide, marking a fundamental shift in the country’s approach to public lighting infrastructure.
Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, disclosed the policy directive, stating that all new road projects and streetlight replacement works would now prioritise solar-powered systems. The transition is being coordinated with the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, who is leading the nationwide rollout.
Rationale Behind the Transition
Speaking on the decision, Mr Agbodza explained that solar-powered streetlights offer a significant advantage over traditional grid-connected systems due to their independent operation.
“Government has taken a decision to replace all streetlights with solar. With solar, even if one is damaged, the others can work,” Mr Agbodza stated.
This characteristic addresses a persistent problem with conventional street lighting, where a single fault in the series-wired system or underground cabling can plunge entire stretches of road into darkness. Solar units, by contrast, operate autonomously, ensuring that localized failures do not compromise the wider lighting network.
The Minister confirmed that the government would no longer install main-grid-powered streetlights as part of new projects, describing the move as a full-scale transition to solar energy for street lighting.
Addressing National Grid Pressure
The initiative also represents a strategic response to the significant burden that street lighting places on Ghana’s national electricity grid. According to data from the Ministry of Energy, grid-dependent street lighting currently consumes between 200 and 300 megawatts of electricity during peak evening hours . This demand coincides with the period when households and businesses are also drawing heavily from the grid, contributing to strain on the national power system.
Ghana has been working to recover from a power shortfall of 720 megawatts reported at the end of 2024 . By migrating an estimated 700 kilometers of urban road networks to independent solar units, the government intends to reclaim significant capacity for industrial and domestic use, while also advancing its Green Transition Agenda .
The project is already underway, with the Ministry of Energy having commenced the installation of 23,500 solar-powered streetlights covering a total distance of 700 kilometers across the country . This initiative is expected to reduce national load by up to 300 megawatts .
Investigation into Tema Motorway Traffic Light Failure
Mr Agbodza also used the announcement to clarify the recent failure of traffic lights at the Tema end of the Accra-Tema Motorway, which had initially raised questions about the performance of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
According to the Minister, forensic investigations revealed that the failure was not caused by ECG or any grid-related issue. Instead, underground cables serving the traffic-light system had been completely removed by unknown individuals. The government is now engaging a new contractor to undertake a full-scale rewiring of the affected systems.
This revelation highlights a broader challenge facing Ghana’s road infrastructure. The Tema Motorway Interchange, a $91 million project funded by the Government of Japan through JICA, has suffered extensive vandalism less than a year after its commissioning . The facility, which was inaugurated in December 2024, has seen the theft of electrical components and cables, rendering traffic and streetlights non-functional .
“This is a systemic problem,” Mr Agbodza noted, referring to the widespread vandalism of public lighting infrastructure. Previous statements by the Minister have described perpetrators of such acts as “unpatriotic citizens” who steal components for scrap . The Minister has previously revealed that even installations in front of key national institutions have not been spared from theft .
A Solution to Endemic Vandalism
The shift to solar-powered systems also offers a strategic response to the widespread vandalism of street lighting infrastructure. Traditional grid-connected systems rely on extensive underground copper cabling, which has become a target for criminal syndicates who strip and sell the metal as scrap . The theft of copper cables from major arteries like the Achimota-Pokuase road and the Tema Motorway has plunged large sections of Accra into darkness .
By mandating standalone solar units, the government effectively eliminates the subterranean copper cabling that attracts thieves. While the initial capital expenditure for high-capacity solar batteries and photovoltaic panels is significant, the long-term elimination of grid electricity costs and the drastically reduced vulnerability to localized vandalism provide an overwhelming economic justification .
Implementation and Maintenance Considerations
The success of the nationwide rollout will depend largely on the quality of the procured hardware and the establishment of a robust maintenance culture. Previous iterations of solar street lighting in various African cities have failed due to the procurement of sub-standard batteries or panels that fail to charge adequately during the rainy season .
Mr Agbodza emphasized that the Ministry of Energy must enforce stringent technical specifications and demand comprehensive, multi-year warranties from contractors. The government has also acknowledged the need for community involvement in protecting these assets and for training local technicians to ensure proper maintenance .
The transition to solar-powered street lighting represents a significant maturation in Ghana’s urban infrastructure development, acknowledging the realities of grid instability and localized crime while engineering solutions that bypass these vulnerabilities. If executed according to the ambitious timeline, the project will fundamentally alter the nocturnal landscape of Ghana’s cities, providing safer roads, supporting extended economic activity, and reinforcing the country’s commitment to renewable energy .
