EXPLORING SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS FOR GHANA: A CLEWS-BASED SYSTEMS MODEL

Ghana, a West African country with a population of about 34 million, faces growing pressure on its energy, land, and water systems due to rising energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Around 95% of the country’s electricity is currently generated from fossil fuels and hydro. To explore sustainable pathways, this study applies the Climate-Land-Energy-Water (CLEWs) framework using the OSeMOSYS modelling tool. Two scenarios are analyzed: a reference scenario (business-as-usual) and a renewable energy target scenario that achieves 10% non-hydro renewable electricity by 2030. The results highlight trade-offs between emissions, land, and water use and show that targeted investments in solar PV, cross-sectoral planning, and grid upgrades are key to Ghana’s low-carbon future. This modeling exercise was developed during the EMP-Africa 2025 workshop.