Fueling homes and lighting lives: understanding household energy decisions in off-grid rural Ghana

Despite the extensive efforts by stakeholders to facilitate the transition to cleaner energy sources in sub-Saharan Africa, their uptake has been slow-paced. Consequently, a significant portion of the population still lacks access to modern cooking technologies and electricity. This paper explores the residential energy situation of off-grid rural communities, a section which has been understudied in energy transition discourse, and where access is largely framed as the mere provision of an energy source. It investigates the energy decisions of households, examining the reasons behind their choices and identifying the factors that hinder their exclusive use of clean energy solutions. This paper utilised primary data collected in the Kwahu Afram Plains North and South Districts of Ghana. Adopting the mixed-methods approach, data were gathered through surveys, qualitative interviews and direct observations. The findings identified energy access as not solely technological challenge but a broader issue constrained by political dynamics, affordability, availability and limited household knowledge. It further revealed that the availability of clean energy solutions alone does not lead to widespread adoption, as households consider factors such as cost and reliability. These findings underscore the need for stakeholders advocating for SDG 7 to expand the framework of energy transition, moving beyond the provision of technologies to include the social, economic, and political factors that influence access and adoption in rural communities. While the availability of clean energy solutions is crucial, achieving equitable and sustainable energy access requires addressing the underlying barriers that prevent marginalised groups from fully benefiting.