By Abdullahi Lukman
The ECOWAS Parliament has intensified efforts to accelerate renewable energy development across West Africa, declaring that expanded access to electricity is critical to addressing poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and slow economic growth in rural communities.
The call was made on Monday at the opening of a five-day Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting in Dakar, where lawmakers, government officials, development partners, energy experts and private-sector stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies for deploying renewable energy to transform rural economies and promote inclusive development.
Representing the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, Fourth Deputy Speaker Hon. Billay Tunkara said renewable energy should no longer be viewed solely as a means of supplying electricity but as a catalyst for economic transformation.
He noted that improved access to clean energy would create opportunities for farmers, women entrepreneurs and young people, while supporting industrialisation and regional development.
“Renewable energy is not merely a technical response to electricity demand. It is a key driver in transforming economic activities, particularly in rural areas,” Tunkara said.
The meeting comes amid growing concerns over persistent energy shortages across West Africa, where millions of households remain without electricity and businesses continue to rely on costly diesel generators due to unreliable power supply.
Energy experts have identified inadequate electricity access as a major barrier to economic development, affecting industrial growth, agricultural productivity, healthcare delivery and education services. The challenge is particularly severe in rural areas, where electrification rates remain among the lowest globally.
Head of the Senegalese Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Guy Marius Sagna, said only about 12 per cent of rural households in the ECOWAS region currently have access to electricity despite the sub-region’s vast renewable energy resources.
“Our region possesses exceptional solar potential, yet millions of our people remain without electricity. This gap between available resources and their utilisation must be urgently addressed,” Sagna said.
He stressed that energy sovereignty is essential for sustainable development and argued that greater control over energy resources and infrastructure would help tackle unemployment, poverty and food insecurity across the region.
Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, Hon. Fanta Conte, also highlighted the scale of the challenge, revealing that less than 40 per cent of the rural population across ECOWAS member states has access to electricity, with some remote communities recording rates below 10 per cent.
According to her, limited access to electricity continues to hinder healthcare services, modern education, business growth and agricultural value addition in many rural communities.
She urged parliamentarians to ensure that regional energy commitments are translated into concrete actions through legislation, oversight and implementation at national levels.
The discussions are taking place as many African countries increasingly adopt renewable energy solutions to expand electricity access, reduce energy deficits and meet climate goals.
Senegal was cited as a leading example, having invested significantly in solar energy projects and diversified its energy mix to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.
Tunkara commended Senegal’s progress under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, noting that investments in renewable energy infrastructure have improved electricity access in rural areas and strengthened the country’s pursuit of energy independence.
Observers believe the outcome of the Dakar meeting could shape the future of energy development in West Africa, with a successful renewable energy strategy expected to boost job creation, attract investment, enhance food production and improve living standards across the region.
The meeting, which runs until June 19, will include technical presentations, policy discussions and field visits to renewable energy installations in Mboursine village. Lawmakers are expected to produce recommendations aimed at accelerating rural electrification throughout the ECOWAS region.
