Ghana’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, has urged ECOWAS mem¬ber states to prioritise regional integration and multilateral part¬nerships in order to help address energy challenges confronting the region.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th ECOWAS Re¬gional Electricity Regulatory (ER¬ERA) forum on Wednesday in Accra, the minister said that the pursuit of energy security in West Africa required a holistic approach that considers geopolitical dynamics, promotes sustainable development, and fosters regional cooperation.
“By embracing these principles, West Africa can harness its energy potential to drive economic growth, enhance regional stability and contribute to global energy security,” he said.
Mr Krapa said that electricity trade security in the ECOWAS region had become increasingly critical, as the region faced signif¬icant energy challenges despite its immense potential and profound challenges.
According to him, the theme ‘Geopolitical Dynamics and Energy Security: Implications for the West Africa Region”, is offering the region’s energy experts the platform to identify best practices and opportunities to build and safeguard energy security in the region, aiming to develop a regional electricity market in ECOWAS.
The report by the Ghanaian Times said that the experts at the forum included ministries in charge of energy, parliamentarians, academics, researchers, consumer groups, regulators, operators, inves¬tors, civil society groups, as well as financial and technical partners.
They are expected to discuss mechanisms for resolving disputes and enforcing agreements related to electricity trade within the region, analyse the role of national policies in shaping electricity trade security within the ECOWAS region.
GIK/APA
Ghana: Energy Minister urges ECOWAS to prioritise regional integration
