Dr Richard Obeng Mensah has spent his life chasing answers to questions that affect every Ghanaian. One of such questions is as follows: ‘Why is reliable energy supply so hard to come by in Ghana’?
From selling kerosene as a teenager in Techiman to advising on national energy law, Dr Mensah’s journey has been deeply personal and profoundly professional. Now, as one of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s (KNUST) first home-grown PhD graduates in Law, he has turned his lifelong passion into research on renewable energy policies and legal frameworks, a study that could reshape Ghana’s energy future.
“My research delves into analysing energy policies and regulatory frameworks on renewable energy in Ghana in the context of energy security,” Dr Mensah explains. “The aim was to assess Ghana’s effort in increasing its renewable energy mix to solve problems such as climate change and the recurrent power crises that have plagued the country since 1984.”
His fascination with energy matters dates back to his youth. “When I was a teenager, I used to sell kerosene in Techiman and later assisted my elder brother in an electrical shop. Little did I realise at that time that these experiences were preparing me for this path,” he recalls.
After completing an LLM in Energy Law at the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, under the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, Dr Mensah returned to Ghana and embarked on his doctoral studies at KNUST in 2019.
His research exposes critical gaps in Ghana’s renewable energy regulatory framework. Despite the Renewable Energy Act of 2011 and its amendments, along with several policies, Ghana has achieved less than 1% penetration of non-hydro renewable energy.
His study identifies financial constraints, regulatory gaps, weak policy implementation, and insufficient political commitment as key barriers.
“The nation loses almost $2 million every day due to power shortages. We cannot continue to rely on imported conventional energy sources, which destabilise the economy,” he says. Dr Mensah emphasises that renewable energy is not only an environmental protection necessity but also an economic development imperative. Every sector depends on reliable energy, and sustainable development hinges on solving the nation’s recurrent power crises.
His work draws lessons from countries such as Kenya, Sweden, China, and South Africa. It demonstrates how deliberate investment, policy prioritisation, and legal frameworks can accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.
Based on his findings, Dr Mensah, among others, recommends:
- Deliberate government investment in renewable energy projects with clear budgetary allocations.
- Broad strategic partnerships with individuals, communities, MMDAs, private institutions and international stakeholders to fund and implement renewable energy initiatives.
- Political commitment to prioritise renewable energy within national economic and environmental frameworks.
“My research shows that until Ghana decides to prioritise renewable energy production, promotion and utilisation, the country has not truly begun achieving its energy security and sustainable development goals,” he says. “Energy is the backbone of our economy, and my work aims at providing both legal clarity and practical guidance for sustainable development.”
Beyond policy and law, Dr Mensah’s study contributes significantly to academic knowledge, particularly in climate change, renewable energy, energy security and sustainable development within the legal field.
It provides a roadmap for Ghana to transition from imported conventional energy sources to sustainable and reliable renewable energy systems.
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