Energy Poverty Studies in Ghana-Kumasi

This research examines energy poverty in urban Ghana, focusing on how conventional grid connectivity measures often overlook the continued struggles of households that are technically connected to electricity. Despite large infrastructure investments across sub-Saharan Africa, many urban residents still face challenges in accessing affordable, reliable, and sufficient energy services. To address this gap, the study applies the capabilities approach as a guiding framework, which highlights how access to energy affects people’s real opportunities to live meaningful lives. Using Q-methodology with 40 stakeholders, the study investigates diverse perspectives on energy poverty and identifies the policy shortcomings that shape these experiences. Combining qualitative and statistical techniques, the research provides a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and institutional dimensions of energy deprivation. The aim is to generate evidence that can inform more inclusive and context-sensitive policy reforms for sustainable energy transitions in urban Ghana and other regions in the Global South.