UMaT Professor Urges Government to Drop 20% Solar Tax to Fast-Track Ghana's Green Energy Drive

Professor Christian Kwaku Amuzuvi, a Professor of Electromechanical Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), has urged the government to eliminate the 20 per cent tax currently imposed on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, arguing that the levy is slowing Ghana's shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

Prof. Amuzuvi made the call during UMaT's 13th Professorial Inaugural Lecture, where he presented research on the topic: "Driving the Green Energy Transition: Translating Ghana's LPG Adoption Model to Residential Rooftop Solar PV Systems." He argued that Ghana's green energy transition has been moving too slowly and that bold policy action is needed to change course.

Drawing a parallel with Ghana's successful rollout of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the professor suggested that targeted incentives — particularly tax removals — could produce a similar surge in solar energy adoption among households and businesses across the country.

"Just as we did for the LPG national programme, and now today every home has several cylinders — we have been attracted to use it. We can do the same thing for residential rooftop solar PV systems. Remove all the taxes. Just remove it for a start — within five or seven years. Once you get people to buy into it, you can gradually increase it," Prof. Amuzuvi said.

He maintained that the government stands nothing to lose by offering temporary tax relief on solar systems, and that once Ghanaians experience the benefits of solar energy first-hand, demand will become self-sustaining — even if taxes are eventually reintroduced.

Prof. Amuzuvi called on policymakers to prioritise expanding solar energy access through tax reliefs and supportive legislation before exploring any future revenue generation from the sector, stressing that broadening uptake must come first.