Key points
- The ECOWAS Parliament has called on member states to accelerate investment in renewable energy.
- Lawmakers say renewable energy is key to rural electrification and economic transformation.
- Less than 40 per cent of rural populations in West Africa have access to electricity.
- In some member states, rural electrification rates fall below 10 per cent in remote areas.
- The meeting is exploring legislative and financial solutions to expand energy access.
Main Story
The ECOWAS Parliament has urged member states to speed up investment in renewable energy, describing it as essential for rural electrification, economic transformation and sustainable development across West Africa.
The call was made by Speaker of the Parliament, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, at a five-day delocalised meeting of the parliament’s joint committee on energy and electricity held on Monday in Dakar, Senegal. Ibrahima, represented by Fourth Deputy Speaker Billay Tunkara, said renewable energy should not only address electricity needs but also serve as a tool for empowering rural communities and boosting local economies. She urged member states to adopt innovative financing models, strengthen technology transfer, support local manufacturing and reinforce legislative oversight to ensure effective implementation of regional energy policies.
According to her, access to clean energy is both a basic right and a driver of social stability and sustainable development.
She added that renewable energy can transform rural economic activities, particularly for women, young people and farmers. The Speaker also commended Senegal’s progress in expanding solar energy and improving electricity access under President Bassirou Faye’s energy diversification agenda. Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Energy, Mines, Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure, MP Fanta Conte, said the meeting was convened in response to the widening gap between energy demand and supply in the region.
She noted that inadequate electricity access continues to affect healthcare delivery, education, agriculture and income-generating activities across rural communities. Conte said that while ECOWAS has developed policies such as the Renewable Energy Policy and Energy Efficiency Action Plan, member states must ensure these frameworks are implemented at national level.
She said less than 40 per cent of rural populations in the ECOWAS region have access to electricity, while some countries record rates below 10 per cent in remote areas. Head of Senegal’s delegation to the Parliament, Guy Sagna, described the meeting theme as a call to action, stressing that energy sovereignty is essential for development. He said the region has vast renewable energy potential, especially solar energy, but continues to face extremely low rural electricity access.
Sagna said the gap between available energy resources and actual utilisation must be urgently addressed through collective regional action. He added that energy independence is critical to solving challenges such as poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and underdevelopment. The meeting, which continues until Friday, brings together lawmakers, government officials, energy experts, development partners and private sector stakeholders to develop practical solutions for expanding renewable energy access.
The Issues
- Low rural electrification rates across ECOWAS member states.
- Underutilisation of abundant renewable energy resources.
- Gaps between regional policy frameworks and national implementation.
- Limited investment and financing for rural energy infrastructure.
- Socioeconomic impact of poor electricity access in rural communities.
What’s Being Said
- ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, said: “Renewable energy is not merely a technical response to electricity demand. It is a key driver in transforming economic activities, particularly in rural areas.”
- She added: “Access to clean energy is a fundamental right, a factor in social peace and a driver of sustainable development.”
- MP Fanta Conte said: “Less than 40 per cent of the rural population has access to electricity. In some of our Member States, this rate falls below 10 per cent in the most remote areas.”
- Guy Sagna said: “This gap between our resources and their exploitation is a challenge that we must collectively and urgently address.”
What’s Next
- ECOWAS Parliament will conclude deliberations with policy recommendations for member states.
- Field visits and stakeholder engagements will inform legislative proposals on rural electrification.
- Member states are expected to strengthen renewable energy investments and implementation frameworks.
- Further regional coordination is expected on financing and energy infrastructure development.
Bottom Line
The ECOWAS Parliament is pushing for urgent action on renewable energy investment, warning that closing the rural electricity gap is critical to unlocking economic development and improving living standards across West Africa.
