Ghana Commissions 1MW Solar Power Plant at Dawhenya
In a bold move to integrate renewable energy into agriculture, Ghana has officially launched a 1-megawatt solar power plant at the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme in the Greater Accra Region.
Damian Owusu 
In a bold move to integrate renewable energy into agriculture, Ghana has officially launched a 1-megawatt solar power plant at the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme in the Greater Accra Region. The project, unveiled in September 2025, marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen food security, reduce carbon emissions, and expand access to clean energy.
The solar plant is part of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Programme, a collaborative initiative between Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the government of South Korea. With completion expected by December 2026, the facility will power irrigation systems and farming operations in Dawhenya and surrounding communities.
Key Features of the Dawhenya Solar Project:
The plant will generate 1 megawatt of solar electricity, reducing reliance on diesel-powered irrigation and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
It will support rice cultivation and year-round farming, improving food production and rural livelihoods.
Over 400 solar water pumps will be deployed by 2026, with plans to scale up to 3,500 pumps by 2028, covering nearly 400,000 hectares of farmland.
The project is valued at $5 million and includes technical training for ministry staff on plant operation and maintenance.
Speaking at the launch, Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor emphasized the importance of clean energy in transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape. He noted that although Ghana has the potential to irrigate up to 1.9 million hectares of land, only about 3% is currently irrigated. The Dawhenya solar plant is expected to help reverse this trend and unlock the country’s agricultural potential.
The initiative also aligns with Ghana’s climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and is expected to create green jobs for youth and women in farming and renewable energy sectors.
Representatives from the Korean Embassy and the Korea Association of Machinery Industry praised the project as a model of international cooperation. The solar plant complements Korea’s K-Rice Belt Initiative, which aims to boost rice production across Africa through improved irrigation and technology.
As Ghana continues to embrace sustainable development, the Dawhenya solar power plant stands as a beacon of innovation—merging energy, agriculture, and climate resilience into one transformative project.
