An Examination of United States Aid Apropos the Energy Sector of Ghana

Abstract

This thesis seeks to examine critically the extent to which the contemporary governance of electricity development is shaped by global and national policy frameworks and the influences of transnational companies on the privatization of infrastructure. In recent times, there has been significant shifts in investments from donors and transnational corporations towards energy infrastructural development in Africa with the sole purpose of increasing energy access and ensuring energy security. Energy insecurity in Africa has been a growing concern for both household and businesses. This is coupled with increasing tariffs and poor power service delivery leading to the inability of the power sector to meet the needs of the consumers. There is much focus on Africa due primarily to its potential energy, land and natural resources which constitutes new frontiers of accumulation within the global economy and also due to the problem of energy insecurity. The need to improve power infrastructure has been promoted and undertaken by western investors and donors in partnership with the United States. They advocate liberalization of power markets and privatization of power infrastructure as the basic approach to achieving energy access for all. The study argues that although power infrastructural development targets energy access among citizens, it also serves the interest of investors. Thus, this thesis explores infrastructure development through investigating the discrepancy between discourses and practices in the development of power infrastructure and employs the Power Africa Initiative as a case study in demonstrating the interplay of western investors and donors and the promotion of their interests in the development paradigm of African countries.