The ECOWAS Parliament has called for a accelerated transition to renewable energy to drive rural electrification and economic revitalization across West Africa, noting that clean energy installations can generate three times as many local jobs as traditional fossil fuels.
The call was made by the 4th Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Billay Tunkara, who represented Speaker Hon. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima at the official opening of the Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting today in Dakar. The five-day parliamentary session, running from June 15 to 19, 2026, brings together the joint committees on Energy and Mines; Infrastructure; and Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources.
Speaking under the theme, “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and the Revitalisation of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament,” Hon. Conte emphasized that clean energy is a fundamental right and a critical tool for poverty alleviation, rather than just a technical solution to power demands.
”Every megawatt of renewable energy installed in rural areas will generate three times as many local jobs as fossil fuels,” Conte stated, urging regional leaders to train West African youth for careers in solar installation, component manufacturing, and microgrid management.
The Deputy Speaker praised host nation Senegal as a regional leader in the sector. While renewable energy accounts for less than 20% of the total energy mix across West Africa, Senegal has reached approximately 30% due to major investments in solar power plants in Bokhol, Ten Merina, and Senergy. Conte commended Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s vision for energy sovereignty and diversification, noting that rural electrification in Senegal is already boosting small businesses and agricultural processing.
Despite the region’s exceptional solar and wind potential, delegates heard that inadequate distribution networks and financing gaps continue to hinder clean energy access in rural areas. To overcome these barriers, the ECOWAS Parliament is advocating for innovative financing mechanisms, including the creation of regional green funds and increased support for decentralized mini-grids.
The parliament also emphasized the need for South-South cooperation and partnerships with centers of excellence to ensure local ownership and technical training, moving the region away from simply importing foreign energy solutions.
Looking forward, the Joint Committee urged member states to enforce the effective implementation of the ECOWAS policy on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Parliamentary representatives were called upon to use their legislative and budgetary oversight to ensure energy policies explicitly support rural startups, cooperatives, and local economic development.
The opening ceremony was attended by high-level dignitaries, including the President of the National Assembly of Senegal, the Minister for African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Diaspora, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from the ECOWAS Commission.
The joint committee’s deliberations will continue through June 19, aiming to translate regional energy policies into concrete legislative actions for West Africa’s rural populations.
