Atta Gyan
Fidelity Bank Ghana has identified the structural challenges facing the country’s energy sector as a critical national imperative that demands immediate, sustained reform and disciplined capital investment.
Speaking at the B&FT Thought Leadership Series Energy Roundtable, Atta Yeboah Gyan, Deputy Managing Director for Operations & Support Functions at Fidelity Bank, emphasised that fixing the energy sector is “not a matter of choice, but a necessity for Ghana’s destiny.”
The event, themed “Powering Ghana Forward: Strategising for a Self-Sustaining and Resilient Power Sector in 10 Years,” provided a platform for Mr. Gyan to offer a candid assessment of a power sector currently weighed down by over US$3 billion in legacy debt and liquidity challenges.
“If we are to be honest with ourselves, Ghana’s power sector stands today as both an emblem of progress and a mirror of strain,” Mr. Gyan stated.
He attributed the strain to a vicious cycle of inefficiencies, including delayed tariff adjustments, non-payment by public entities, and a weakened cedi that inflates energy costs.
“What Ghana’s power ecosystem needs today is not more temporary fixes, but sustainable financing structures underpinned by transparency, innovation, and collaboration,” he asserted, noting that the financial sector’s involvement is as much about capital discipline and governance as it is about generation capacity.
Drawing from the Bank’s extensive experience in corporate and project finance, Mr. Gyan stated that the energy challenge is not solely about increasing capacity but also about ensuring fiscal responsibility and institutional transparency.
He referenced the role financial institutions such as Fidelity Bank have played through initiatives like the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA) bonds, which provided temporary relief to liquidity pressures.
However, he stressed the need for more sustainable financing models rooted in data-driven decision-making and accountability.
Mr. Gyan called for deeper collaboration between the financial sector, policymakers, and energy operators to deliver a power system that works for both consumers and investors.
He outlined several priority areas for action, from smart investments in renewable and hybrid systems to the digitisation of collections and the expansion of smart metering to plug revenue leakages.
“Digitisation and data transparency must be prioritised to build trust across the value chain,” he added.
“Equally important is the establishment of clear, cost-reflective pricing frameworks that give investors and financiers the confidence to commit long-term capital,” he intimated.
Reaffirming Fidelity Bank’s position as a leader in sustainable finance, Mr. Gyan announced that the Bank is aligning its financing framework to actively support the nation’s clean energy transition.
He noted that Fidelity has already introduced renewable asset financing products to empower individuals and businesses to adopt cleaner energy solutions.
The Bank is also exploring innovative tools such as green financing, blended capital, and ESG-linked instruments to scale up investment in renewable energy and strengthen local energy enterprises.
Mr. Gyan urged greater alignment among policy, finance, and purpose to transform Ghana’s energy sector into one defined by resilience, efficiency, and inclusivity.
“The challenges before us are complex, but not insurmountable. At Fidelity Bank, we remain committed to walking this journey with Ghana, to power homes and industries, but more importantly, to power confidence, productivity, and growth. Together, we can build an energy sector that is not just functional, but future-ready,” he said.
A Business Desk Report