By Francis

Copyright thebftonline

By Bright DJIKUNU

Ghana is on the crossover of a digital inflection point. Demand for artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, and cloud-powered services is burgeoning, not just globally, but right here in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and beyond.

The promise is enormous: local firms, if given the right support, can become regional hubs for data annotation, model training, AI-enabled agriculture, language tech, and health diagnostics. But there’s a fundamental friction point: Power.

The grid’s unreliability, fuel supply constraints, and financial instability in the energy sector are threatening to choke off Ghana’s ability to convert its data potential into real growth.

I want to outline why these gaps matter, how they show up, and what must be done, especially as capital begins to flow towards Ghana’s AI/data infrastructure.

Where the Gaps Are

Power Sector Financial Stress & IPP Debt: Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have played a key role in Ghana’s energy supply. Yet many have scaled back or shut down operations due to unpaid debts. Sunon Asogli, for example, shut its 560 MW plant over a US$259 million unpaid claim with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in late 2024. Energy News Africa

Other producers, including AKSA Energy, Amandi Energy, Cenit, and Karpowership; have similarly reduced outputs or threatened shutdowns, citing lack of timely payments and delayed fuel procurement. That means less dependable capacity on the grid when demand is rising. CitiNewsroom.com+3Hot Digital Online+3CitiNewsroom.com

Grid Instability at Time of Growing Data Demand: AI workloads are power-hungry and volatile: training large models draws lots of energy in bursts; data centres, especially those with high computers, must maintain uninterrupted power (for cooling, connectivity, reliability).

In Ghana, “dumsor” (power outages or load shedding) may seem a past worry, but disruptions, whether from financial, fuel, or operational issues, remain a business risk. Also, expanding digital infrastructure like: data centres, ISPs, cloud services; compels higher, steadier electricity demand. If the grid cannot be relied on, business models requiring high uptime suffer.

There is also evidence that AI data centre load can spike rapidly; 10× baseline usage in seconds in some cases, adding stress to grid systems not designed for such dynamic demands. The Ghana Report

Renewable plus Hybrid Energy Projects: Good Progress but Insufficient: Thankfully, Ghana has started to develop renewable and hybrid solutions that address part of this challenge. Key among them:

Bui Hydro-Solar Hybrid (HSH): The Bui Power Authority (BPA) has implemented floating solar (5 MWp) and land-based solar (roughly 50 MWp) in conjunction with the 404 MW hydro plant, complemented by a battery energy storage system (30 MWh) to mitigate intermittency. BUI Power+2BUI Power In December 2024, Ghana inaugurated a 45 MW solar project at Bui (40 MW land-based, 5 MW floating) to boost the renewable share. Ghana Business News

These are positive steps; but the volumes are still modest relative to the scale of power required if AI/data infrastructure is to expand meaningfully and reliably.

Why This Matters for Capital & AI Growth

Without reliable and predictable power, the cost structure for any AI/data business goes up:

Generators, fuel, maintenance, and backup systems must be built in, increasing CAPEX and OPEX.Risk premiums rise for investors; lower uptime damages reputation and service offerings; especially for latency-sensitive or continuous operations.Scaling becomes harder: expanding computing capacity means proportional increases in power demand, which may not be met without firm grid or renewable contracts.

On the other hand, when power is reliable, clean, and cost-efficient, capital flows more freely. Investors are more willing to commit, borrowing costs drop, and projects become bankable.

What Must Be Done: A Roadmap

To solidify Ghana’s place as an AI/data power in Africa, bridging the capital-energy gap requires a holistic strategy. Here are key components:

Financial Settlement & Restructuring in the Energy Sector: The government must address arrears to IPPs (and timely fuel supply), streamline the Cash-Waterfall Mechanism (CWM) or any payment mechanism, and ensure that ECG/VRA/Gridco. are financially viable. Without this, the risk remains that power plants shut off (or degrade), grid reliability deteriorates, and investor confidence is shaken. CitiNewsroom.com+2CitiNewsroom.com

Accelerate Renewables Plus Battery Storage: Expand hybrid plants like Bui HSH, scale floating solar, and ensure energy storage systems are part of every major project. Energy storage is key to smoothing output and ensuring AI/data centres have consistent power. The 5 MW floating solar plant and associated battery storage at Bui is a prototype of what can be done. BUI Power

Regulatory Clarity & Power Contracts for Data/Tech Zones: Create policy and regulatory frameworks that guarantee stable power for data centres special tariffs, reliable supply agreements, permits for on-site generation (solar PV + storage), clear rules on interconnection, etc. Establish “digital infrastructure zones” where developers know up front what power supply can be counted on.

Blended and Patient Capital: Private investors, DFIs (Development Finance Institutions), impact funds, and government must collaborate to provide blended finance: grants, concessional loans, guarantees. Risks (such as power outages) need to be mitigated; investors should feel confident that power supply is not an afterthought but a core part of infrastructure.

Local Capacity & Infrastructure Resilience: Human skills matter: technicians and engineers who understand renewable systems, storage, grid operations. Also, strengthening the transmission network, reducing technical losses, and maintenance of plants so that existing capacity is dependable.

Sustainability & Clean Power Imperative: As we scale, it’s not enough that data is local; the power has to be clean. Otherwise, we lock Ghana into high-carbon backup systems that may be cheaper in the short term but expensive in climate, health, and reputation costs. Wherever possible, ensure new AI/data projects include renewable or renewable PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements).

A Moment to Seize

Ghana has talent, ambition, and increasingly the initial capital interest for AI & data infrastructure. But energy remains the hinge on which success turns. If we fail to stabilize, modernize, and decarbonize the power system, we risk the frustrating scenario of having servers and software, talent and ideas, and no reliable juice to run them.

Alternatively, if we get power + capital right, Ghana can become a leader in AI for West Africa: a hub where models are trained locally, data is stored locally, latency is low, compliance is easier, and value both economic and social is kept here at home.

This is more than a tech policy question; it is an industrial development one. It is about whether Ghana embraces the full cost of building an AI-ready economy or tries to ride parts of it and suffers from blackouts, delays, and degraded credibility. The choice is ours and the infrastructure is not unreachable. It demands political will, finance, technical rigor, and above all, treating data and energy not as separate sectors but as a single ecosystem.