Energy delivery and utilization for rural development: Lessons from Northern Ghana

Abstract

This article explores the linkages between government energy policies and energy use for rural development. The article is based on surveys conducted in selected rural communities in Northern Ghana that are beneficiaries of several energy dissemination programs spearheaded by the government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and donors. Primary data were collected on energy use at the household and community levels using questionnaires and focus group discussions complemented by interviews of energy policy makers. Ghana's energy policy documents were reviewed to gain further insights into the policy process. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to treat and analyze the data obtained through household questionnaires, while the data generated from interviews and focus group discussions were subjected to content analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that while energy use contributes to improving conditions for education due to lighting services at the household and community levels, the patterns of energy use inhibit rural job creation, gender roles, and health care in the surveyed communities. The article concludes that the low contribution of energy toward rural development is to a large extent driven by an energy policy that inhibits the delivery and use of modern energy sources in rural Ghana. Consequently, achieving an energy future that has greater relevance to rural development in Ghana requires a mix of policy tools that enhances the delivery and use of modern energy systems in rural communities in the country.