New research has revealed that many young people working in Ghana’s solar industry face poor working conditions despite the sector’s growing promise of employment.

The number of large-scale solar power projects in Ghana continues to increase as the government pursues its renewable energy goals. Many of these projects are located in rural communities where youth unemployment remains high, making the promise of jobs particularly appealing to residents in host communities.

However, a new study suggests that the reality of these jobs may not match the expectations.

Researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre at KNUST, and the Technical University of Denmark conducted a study in August 2023 at two solar power plants in Ghana. The research examined how young people were recruited to work at the plants, the training and career development opportunities available to them, and the labour conditions under which they worked.

The findings revealed a mixed picture.

On the positive side, some young workers have received on-the-job training to install, operate, and maintain solar power plants. In some cases, individuals who initially started as casual labourers performing manual tasks were able to progress into more skilled roles, including positions as Control Room Operators.

However, the study also highlighted significant challenges. Many of the workers reported long working hours and difficult working conditions.

One worker described the toll the work has taken on them, saying:

“...we are working but still we are suffering. It is not easy. We are small, small boys but when you look at our physical appearance you will think that we are about seventy, eighty years…!”

The research further revealed that proper healthcare support is largely absent, raising concerns about the welfare and long-term well-being of these young workers.

“So where is the good life promised?” asked Paula Edze, one of the researchers behind the study.

The findings highlight the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement of labour policies to ensure better working conditions in the renewable energy sector, particularly for vulnerable populations such as young people in rural communities.