Ghana’s government says it has paid a total of US$1.47 billion in 2025 to clear long-standing debts in the energy sector, a move authorities describe as a major step toward restoring stability, investor confidence, and international credibility in the country’s power system.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the payments covered a wide range of legacy obligations that had built up over several years and posed risks to electricity reliability. A key component of the settlement was US$597.15 million used to fully reinstate a World Bank partial risk guarantee that had been exhausted under the previous administration. The guarantee is considered critical, as it helped unlock nearly US$8 billion in private investment for the Offshore Cape Three Points gas field and the Sankofa Gas Project.
In addition, government records show that Ghana cleared all outstanding gas invoices owed to energy partners ENI and Vitol, paying approximately US$480 million. A further US$393 million was used to settle legacy debts owed to Independent Power Producers, including major suppliers such as Karpowership and Cenpower.
Officials say the comprehensive debt clearance, completed within President John Dramani Mahama’s first year in office, represents a decisive reset of the power sector after years of arrears that had strained relations with investors and energy providers. The Ministry of Finance notes that new budgetary provisions, alongside renegotiated agreements with upstream partners, are intended to keep future payments current while boosting domestic gas production.
Government sources describe the intervention as the end of an era marked by unchecked debt accumulation in the energy sector, adding that the reforms lay the foundation for more reliable power delivery and broader economic growth.
