Network Decentralization and the Politics of Electrification in Africa

Ishmael Ackah (), Franky B. A. Kogueda (), Maame Esi Eshun (), John Abdulai Jinapor (), Richard Gyan-Mensah (), Salamatu Issah (), Ephraim Atuborah () and Sylvester Yiadom Agyei Boachie ()
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Ishmael Ackah: Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration/Energy for Growth Hub
Franky B. A. Kogueda: Economics and Management Research Group [GREG], University of Douala/Faculty of Economics and Applied Management
Maame Esi Eshun: Public Utilities Regulatory Commission
John Abdulai Jinapor: Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
Richard Gyan-Mensah: Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
Salamatu Issah: Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
Ephraim Atuborah: Public Utilities Regulatory Commission
Sylvester Yiadom Agyei Boachie: Ministry of Energy and Green Transition

A chapter in Political Economy of Electricity Access in Africa, 2026, pp 149-170 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter explores how network decentralization and political ideology influence rural electrification outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite ongoing efforts, SSA still has the lowest global electrification rates, with rural areas being most affected. Using panel data from 40 countries from 2000 to 2023, we evaluate how decentralized electricity supply, government ideology, and key governance indicators predict changes in rural electricity access. Applying a Tobit Post-Double-Selection LASSO framework, the analysis shows that decentralized off-grid generation significantly boosts rural electrification, especially in West and East Africa where supportive regulations allow for wider deployment. Government ideology also plays a role: left-leaning governments tend to improve rural access through redistributive and pro-poor electrification policies, while right-leaning governments perform better in regions with strong regulatory and market-driven systems, such as Southern and East Africa. Institutional quality, particularly corruption control, political stability, and the design of lifeline tariffs, further influence these effects. The results emphasize the importance of combining decentralized energy solutions with governance frameworks adapted to each country’s political and institutional context. This study offers a new empirical contribution to understanding the political economy of electrification in SSA and provides policy directions for speeding up universal access.

Keywords: Rural electrification; Decentralized supply; Government ideology; Sub-Saharan Africa; Machine learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H11 O13 O18 P16 Q48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-20844-6_6

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