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Paper short abstract:

To examine the political economy of mini-grid adoption in Ghana, highlighting the role of policy decisions, power dynamics, and stakeholder interests in stalling deployment. It argues for a political economy lens to address challenges and advance sustainable energy access across the Global South

Paper long abstract:

Renewable energy mini-grids are increasingly viewed as catalysts for universal electricity access, particularly in remote and rural areas. Despite their potential to electrify underserved communities, their adoption in most African countries remains limited. Existing studies often attribute this stagnation to technocratic barriers, such as inadequate state support, off-taker risks, insufficient funding, and technology challenges. While these factors are relevant, emerging scholarship highlights the need for a political economy analysis to better explain the slow transition to cleaner energy, including mini-grid implementation. This paper examines the political economy of mini-grid adoption in Ghana, where an estimated 2.4 million rural residents lack electricity access despite the potential for mini-grids to address this gap. Drawing on elite interviews with policymakers, private sector actors, civil society, and donors, alongside documentary analysis, the study explores how mini-grids evolved, the actors involved, and the political, institutional, and socio-economic factors influencing their deployment. The findings reveal how policy decisions, power dynamics, informal networks, traditional land tenure systems, and elite bargains undermine mini-grid initiatives. Competing priorities between energy policy and rural development agendas also contribute to the challenges. The paper argues that a political economy lens is critical to addressing these barriers and provides actionable insights for advancing mini-grids as part of a broader push for sustainable energy access in the Global South. It further emphasizes the intersection of green energy transitions, community sovereignty, and climate-compatible development in sub-Saharan Africa.