Under the auspices of the West Africa Power Pool, (WAPP), the transmission utilities of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Communique on the planned Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire 330kV Double Circuit Interconnection Reinforcement Project.

The MoU was signed on Friday, 27th June 2025 at the Lancaster Hotel, Accra, by Mr. Richard Gyan-Mensah, the Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Ghana, and Mr. Jean Baptiste AKA KADJO, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Cote d’Ivoire.

The project is financed by the World Bank to the tune of 154 million Euros.

Prior to the signing of the MoU and the Communique, the Ag. Chief Executive of GRIDCo, Ing. Mark Baah, and the Director General of CI-Energies, Mr. Noumery SIDIBE, signed the Director General and the Chief Executive Meeting Report.

Under the Chairmanship of Mr. Solomon Adjetey, the Chief Director for the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition (MoEnGT), WAPP coordinated two (2) meetings on the project between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in Accra from Wednesday, 25th June to Friday, 27th June 2025.

Officials from WAPP, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transmission (MoEnGT), Ghana Grid Company LTD. (GRIDCo); CI-Energies; the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy of Cote d’Ivoire; the Consultants for the project, Studio Pietrangeli (SP) and the Financier, World Bank, presented to attendees the results of pre-investment studies that establish the institutional framework for the implementation of the project. All the legal, contractual and procurement frameworks for the project were presented and discussed.

In their opening remarks the heads of the two national institutions emphasised the importance of this interconnection project and the potential long-term impact for regional trade and achieving WAPP’s vision for an interconnected [ECOWAS] Sub-Region.

Ing. Mark Baah, the Ag. Chief Executive of GRIDCo, mentioned among other things that the project forms part of the WAPP’s coastal power transmission backbone along Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire-Benin-Nigeria, which was identified by the ECOWAS Master Plan 2019-2033 as a priority project. Ing. Baah traced the history of the project from 2011 right up to 2022, when it received World Bank’s support.

Mr. Abdoulaye DIA, the Secretary General of WAPP, expressed excitement about the progress of all the paperwork on the project, anticipating a smooth implementation stage. He indicated WAPP’s appreciation to Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire for “Their availability and constant support”, which confirms how important the project is to both countries. Mr. DIA extended appreciation to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, for Ghana’s unconditional support for WAPP projects. The WAPP Secretary General also reiterated gratitude to all the experts, who have worked on the various documents, which will serve as the Institutional Framework to execute the project. Mr. Abdoulaye DIA is confident that “Slowly but surely, all fourteen (14) member countries will achieve the WAPP interconnection.”

On their part, officials from CI-Energies and the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Cote d’Ivoire, recounted the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana interconnection relationship which dates back to 1983. In his view, Director General of CI-Energies, Mr. Noumery SIDIBE indicated that, this reflects the “Common ambition [of the two countries] in getting better energy for the entire sub-region.” CI-Energies is ready to support all aspects of the project, he added. The Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Jean Baptiste AKA KADJO, also noted that Cote d’Ivoire is ready, technically, to start the implementation stage.”

The Ghana component of the Project includes the following:

o Construction of a 121km 330kV double circuit transmission line from Dunkwa to the Ghana [Elubo] – Cote d’Ivoire Border.

o Construction of 75km of 330kV Single Circuit transmission line from Dunkwa to Awodua.

o Construction of a 330/161kV Substation at Dunkwa.

o Implementation of relevant Environmental Mitigation Measures and Resettlement Action Plan for the Project.

The Cote d’Ivoire component of the Project includes the following:

o Construction of a 125km 330kV double circuit transmission line from the Ghana [Elubo] -Cote d’Ivoire Border [Bingerville].

o Implementation of relevant Environmental Mitigation Measures and Resettlement Action Plan for the Project.

The first interconnection between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire was built in 1983. In 2011, feasibility studies for a second line commenced. In 2022, the WAPP secured a World Bank Facility for the project. The project implementation phase is expected to commence in 2026. Completion date will be in 2029.