Energy poverty and functional disability nexus: Empirical evidence from Ghana

Abstract

Energy poverty in developing low- and middle-income economies continues to persist, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, empirical studies that examine the channels through which it impacts well-being indicators remain scanty. The growing occurrence of functional disabilities in hearing, vision, mobility, communication, self-care, and cognition, therefore, provides an untapped means of examining the energy poverty and well-being nexus. Against this backdrop, this study uses data from the 10 % microdata of Ghana's recent Population and Housing Census to analyze a modified multidimensional energy poverty for 835,695 households. Underpinned by the capability framework, the structural equation modeling technique was employed to examine the nexus between energy poverty and functional disability. The findings reveal significant positive impact of energy poverty on functional disability and notably, geographical, gender, and age-group differences. Also, a high incidence of modified multidimensional energy poverty was found with greater intensity among rural residents, savanna zone inhabitants, elderly people, and female-headed households. These findings reveal the policy relevance and urgency to alleviate energy poverty to check functional decline and promote household well-being.