Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company LTD. and Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ing. Dr. William Amuna, has officially unveiled a new book examining the evolving landscape of energy regulation across Africa.
The book was authored by Dr. Ishmael Ackah, a Ghanaian and former Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), and Dr. Charly Gatete, an energy economist from Burkina Faso.
Titled Energy Regulation in Africa: Dynamics, Challenges and Opportunities, the book was launched at the British Council in Accra and attracted key industry stakeholders, including Hon. Richard Gyan-Mensah, Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition; Mrs. Eunice Biritwum, Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission; Mr. Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP); Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, former Minister for Finance; and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, former Minister for Energy.
The publication features contributions from 71 experts across 40 African countries, making it one of the most comprehensive works on energy regulation on the continent.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Amuna noted that Ghana’s installed power generation capacity has exceeded 5,000 megawatts, underscoring the need for robust regulation within the power sector.
He described the book as an excellent publication and urged energy professionals and policymakers to acquire and study it.
Former Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in his remarks, emphasised the importance of a clearer understanding of regulatory independence. He cautioned that public expectations of independence must be balanced with accountability.
“We often call for independent regulators. That is right, but independence is not autonomy,” he said. “Autonomy suggests acting without accountability. Independence is more demanding—requiring fairness, consistency, and the courage to stand firm in the face of competing pressures.”
He stressed that while regulators should engage stakeholders, they must avoid regulatory capture and ensure their mandate serves the public interest. He added that governments must provide clear mandates, stable financing, and respect for due process to enable regulators to function effectively.
Dr. Prempeh also warned against transplanting foreign regulatory models wholesale into African systems, arguing that the continent’s unique economic and infrastructural realities require tailored solutions.
“Africa does not have the luxury of copying and pasting foreign regulatory models,” he said. “We need innovative regulators who embrace digital tools, regional power markets, off-grid solutions, and technologies that support the transition to cleaner energy.”
Lead author Dr. Ishmael Ackah said the book seeks to bridge the gap between research and policy by documenting both progress and persistent challenges in energy regulation across Africa. While acknowledging improvements since the 1990s, he highlighted ongoing concerns around political autonomy, tariff setting, and balancing investor interests with consumer protection.
“We are doing better than in the 90s, but we are still not there yet,” he said. “The book documents successes but also highlights challenges—especially the relationship between regulation and politics, and how to balance competing interests to ensure utilities recover costs while protecting consumers.”
Dr. Ackah added that the publication offers comparative lessons drawn from multiple countries, moving beyond earlier works that focused narrowly on individual national systems.
Energy Regulation in Africa examines policy reforms, institutional development, governance, and regulatory practice, providing a valuable resource for policymakers, regulators, researchers, and investors seeking evidence-based guidance to strengthen energy governance across the continent.
Discover more from Energy News Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.