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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for stronger, independent energy institutions to attract private investment and address persistent financing gaps in the region’s electricity sector.
Speaking at the 16th Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers Responsible for Energy in Accra, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, Aminu Amidu Sulemana, said institutional autonomy was essential to building investor confidence.
He warned that inadequate funding continued to delay efforts to expand electricity access, increase generation capacity and develop renewable energy projects across West Africa.
According to Sulemana, attracting long-term private capital requires credible institutions that can operate independently and without government interference. Stronger institutions would help create a more dependable environment for investors considering energy projects in the region.
The call comes amid wider efforts by ECOWAS to mobilise private funding for infrastructure and industrial development.
The ECOWAS Business Council, chaired by Aliko Dangote, has developed a framework known as “Power West Africa for Industrialization.” The private-sector-led initiative prioritises sufficient and reliable energy supplies to support industrial growth.
As part of these efforts, the council is seeking to channel investment into electricity infrastructure through engagement with financial institutions, including the Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank and the International Finance Corporation.
The regional investment drive is also expected to feature at the inaugural West Africa Integration and Investment Summit, scheduled for November 17–18, 2026, in Sierra Leone.
Regional leaders and business representatives are targeting a pipeline of projects valued at up to US$15 billion, covering areas such as energy trade, agriculture and digital transformation.
ECOWAS’s emphasis on institutional independence places energy governance alongside financing as a priority in efforts to expand reliable electricity supplies and support economic growth across the region.
Source: Omanghana
