Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) are frameworks designed to achieve a sustainable future for all. An energy progress report was released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UN Development of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Here is a summary of the performance of the West African countries towards attaining universal electricity access.
The above column chart is an extract that illustrates the electrification access rate among the West African countries compared with global electrification access from 2013 to 2019.
From the report on the mandate to achieve SDG7 by 2030, only Cabo Verde, with current electrification at 96 per cent, appears to have met the target. Ghana is next in line, having an 84 per cent access rate and Senegal taking third place.
Also, from the graph, while some countries such as Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Senegal, Cabo Verde, Liberia, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Cote d Ivoire, and Niger showed a progressive increase, some others like Sierra Leone maintained a steady rate (learn more).
On the other hand, Nigeria was the only country that saw a decline in electricity access (from 56 per cent in 2013 to 55 per cent in 2019).