Leapfrogging inequality? Navigating a pathway to cleaner energy in rural Ghana

Despite progress toward SDG7, many people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are projected to remain without access to clean energy by 2030 unless drastic measures are taken. Existing studies have largely focused on technological innovation in the Global North, producing a techno-centric bias that overlooks the complexities of energy access in non-Western contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining energy transitions in rural Ghana through the Political Ecology framework for Sustainable Energy Transition (PESET)—an integrated analytical model that synthesises energy justice, political ecology, and inclusive innovation. It provides novel empirical insights into how context-specific factors influence clean energy adoption and reinforce existing inequalities. Through a reflexive thematic analysis of 43 qualitative key informant interviews, the study reveals the multidimensional nature of energy transitions and challenges dominant techno-centric paradigms by demonstrating how structural inequalities and power asymmetries shape participation, access, and outcomes in the transition process. The analysis identifies four adoption barriers (cost, availability, behavioural resistance, and limited awareness), four forms of exclusion (process, consumption, impact, and structural), and three dimensions of energy injustice (distributive, recognition, and procedural) that intersect to constrain a sustainable transition. Building on these insights, the study proposes a holistic pathway to support a more equitable and sustainable energy transition, offering actionable policy guidance and contributing to progress toward SDG7 in rural Ghana. • Context-specific strategies are vital for a sustainable energy transition in SSA. • Technology-focused transitions risk reinforcing existing marginalisations • Current transition efforts in rural Ghana are marked by injustices and exclusions. • Governance, financial and regulatory realignments are vital for equitable transition. • Multi-level actors play significant role in transition processes and outcomes.