Ghana is poised to take its economic development to an entirely new level and has an opportunity to choose a low carbon path. Its priorities – economic growth and development – could be expected to lead to increased emissions of greenhouse gases. In a low carbon scenario, emissions would still rise. However, the increase would not be on the scale caused by a ?business as usual?, high carbon pathway.

In addition, low carbon economic growth would generate significant development benefits. In the short-term, low carbon alternatives may reveal direct business opportunities and cost reductions. Low carbon growth would also open up access to international funding through, for example, REDD+. And in the long-term, it would create a more robust economy, better able to withstand many shocks and stresses. This would contribute to the creation of a more equitable and integrated society.

Ghana?s energy has, historically, been based on low carbon hydro-power, which is now vulnerable to climate change, threatening Ghana?s energy security. Ongoing power sector reform, however, could lead to a stronger involvement by the private sector in building new low carbon electricity generation capacity and investing in energy efficiency. There are emerging oil and gas industries, with expectations of enough gas in the Jubilee oil field to generate around 30% of Ghana?s current electricity needs. The largest industrial energy user, the gold mining sector is already adopting major energy efficiency initiatives as a result of changing industrial costs, including the cost of power. There is an opportunity here to build on such private sector initiatives and to forge closer partnerships.

Energy efficiency measures, such as the very successful programme to introduce compact fluorescent lamps, tend to reduce energy costs and leave more electricity available for other purposes.

Low carbon growth can mean, for example, less reliance on fossil fuels, higher energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy, which could lead to improved international competitiveness, as well as new jobs related to the application of modern technologies. Waste, agricultural residues and biomass could be used to generate energy. A low carbon future can also mean improved city planning, a more modern public transport infrastructure and more efficient use of private and public transport. Ghana?s transport system is road-based, with increasing congestion and pollution, particularly in the cities. An urban transport project, using high occupancy buses running in dedicated lanes, is already underway to resolve these problems. An inter-city rail service between Accra and Tema has also been inaugurated.

Ghana aims to derive 10% of its energy from renewable resources other than large-scale hydropower by 2020 and is developing a proposal to establish its own Renewable Energy Fund under the Renewable Energy Law. It may well be possible to attract international support for low carbon initiatives via Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) or through the carbon market. An initiative on improved cook stoves, for example, could be taken to scale.

With adequate financing, strong capacity building and solid data, Ghana could be well placed to become an early mover on low carbon growth within West Africa