The Vice-Chancellor of Sunyani Technical University, Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah has underscored key findings from the 6th Africa Sustainability Report and Think Energy SDGs Award, revealing both significant progress and areas needing improvement.
A new report assessing a decade of action on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa presents a complex picture of achievements, challenges, and the urgent need to adjust climate goals.
The 6th Africa Sustainability Report and Think Energy SDGs Awards, held on October 22, 2025, provided a platform for experts to analyse the continent’s progress toward achieving the 2030 Agenda.
According to a report by GhanaWebTV on October 22, progress has been made in education and access to basic services, but challenges persist in poverty reduction, inequality, and climate action.
“There is an urgent need for Africa to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to help mitigate climate change. I am here to discuss how Africa is navigating this transition, a decade into the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he stated.
The professor also emphasized the urgent need for increased investment, innovative partnerships, and a renewed focus on climate resilience to move forward.
“Energy is key to development and, in fact, a foundation for industrialization. However, energy production can pose threats to the environment through greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change, air and water pollution, habitat destruction from extraction and infrastructure development, and even induced seismicity in some cases. While the combustion of fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, is a major source of pollution, all energy sources have some environmental impact, from land use for solar and wind farms to potential radioactive waste from nuclear power.”
The event acted as a call to action, urging African nations to revise their climate goals in light of the pressing situation.
“The expansion of renewables provides reliable energy, economic development, and climate protection. Reliable and sustainable energy is indispensable for ensuring people have access to essential services like healthcare and safe drinking water,” he remarked.
The renewable energy journey of the African continent, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), holds significant promise and notable progress, despite ongoing challenges: discussions are centered on the need for ambitious targets, sustainable financing mechanisms, and the deployment of renewable energy technologies.
The continent has the highest proportion of renewable energy in its final energy consumption worldwide and is rich in solar and mineral resources; however, achieving universal energy access and meeting targets like SDG 7 face significant challenges, such as financing, policy implementation, and infrastructure development.
Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) and the World Bank/African Development Bank’s Mission 300 aim to address these issues and accelerate growth.
Reported by:
HUDU YUSSIF
