Event:WikiForHumanRights 2025 in Ghana/Walewale/Tamale
Ghana is undergoing a critical and long-term transformation of its energy sector, guided by the National Energy Transition Framework (2022–2070). This framework aims to transition the country from a fossil fuel-reliant system to a low-carbon, sustainable, and inclusive energy future. Central to this transition is a commitment to: Decarbonizing the energy and transportation sectors, which are major contributors to national emissions;
- Integrating renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy;
- Converting thermal plants to natural gas and incorporating nuclear energy;
- Leveraging the country’s endowment of green minerals (e.g., lithium and graphite) for clean energy technologies;
- Ensuring energy access, affordability, and security for all Ghanaians;
- Achieving a Just Energy Transition that leaves no one behind and supports local jobs, community resilience, and social equity.
These national goals are well aligned with global climate action efforts and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). However, despite Ghana’s robust planning and engagement in clean energy development, public knowledge about these efforts—particularly on global knowledge-sharing platforms such as Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons—remains sparse, uneven, or outdated. Problem Statement From our collaborative research on Wikipedia we discovered that there is a significant information gap on Wikimedia platforms concerning Ghana’s energy transition. While some policies and initiatives are mentioned in passing, many remain undocumented or underdeveloped in content and references. These include:
Energy policies and frameworks (e.g., the National Energy Transition Framework, Renewable Energy Master Plan);
- Clean energy projects (e.g., mini-grid installations, solar PV systems, improved cookstove programs);
- Emerging sectors (e.g., electric vehicles, energy efficiency measures, climate-smart transportation);
- Key institutions, experts, and community-led innovations;
- Critical minerals and their role in the global green economy.
This gap limits public access to accurate, verifiable, and localized knowledge about Ghana’s leadership in sustainable energy transitions. It also undermines efforts to promote environmental literacy, policy engagement, and the visibility of Ghana’s climate solutions—especially those emerging from the Global South. Attached is the research discovered and our goal is to focus on bridging this gap identified.
Project Justification
Wikipedia is one of the world’s most visited websites and a primary entry point for individuals seeking information about countries, technologies, and policies. Ensuring that content related to Ghana’s energy transition is comprehensive, reliable, and updated is not only a matter of information access—it is a form of global representation and digital inclusion.
By documenting Ghana’s energy transition on Wikimedia platforms, we aim to:
Bridge the gap between national energy and climate policies and public understanding;
- Democratize access to energy and climate information, particularly for students, educators, researchers, and civil society actors;