Blindspot Africa

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Dr. Charles G. Ofori speaks with Dr. Juliet Twumasi-Anokye Chairperson of the Council of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA), about the importance of fair competition in West Africa and its implications for the energy sector.
The conversation explores how competition regulation protects consumers, prevents dominant companies from abusing their market power, and discourages practices such as price-fixing, cartels, and bid-rigging. Dr. Twumasi-Anokye explains why effective competition is essential for lowering prices, encouraging innovation, improving efficiency, and creating a fairer environment for businesses of all sizes.

A key focus is the energy sector, where investment, industrialisation, and regional value chains are creating new opportunities—and new risks. The discussion examines how competition authorities can help ensure that investors operate within fair market rules, while balancing the need for competitive pricing with consumer protection and sustainable investment.
The episode also highlights Ghana’s competition policy gap, the progress of competition law development across ECOWAS member states, and why stronger regulatory institutions are increasingly important as West Africa pursues economic integration and industrial growth.

Key topics include:
• The role of ERCA in regulating competition across West Africa
• Why competition laws matter for consumers and businesses
• Market dominance, price-fixing, and anti-competitive practices
• Competition and pricing in the energy sector
• Ghana’s competition regulation gap
• Regional integration, investment, and industrialisation

A timely discussion on why fair competition is essential to protecting consumers, strengthening markets, and building a more competitive West African economy.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Gyamfi Ofori speaks with Dr. Joseph Asenso, Head of the Economics Division at the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), about one of the biggest challenges facing Africa’s energy sector: financing the infrastructure needed to close the continent’s energy access gap. 

The conversation examines project bankability, development finance, and the risks that make energy investments more expensive in Africa. Dr. Asenso explains what financiers look for when assessing energy projects, including signed power purchase agreements, reliable off-takers, sustainable tariffs, and adequate risk protection. 

They also explore the impact of currency depreciation, inflation, payment defaults, and macroeconomic instability on energy investment and electricity costs. The discussion highlights why stabilising these fundamentals is critical to attracting both local and international capital. 

The episode also looks at the growing role of solar, wind, gas, development finance institutions, and pension funds in unlocking capital for Africa’s energy infrastructure—and what governments and investors can do to make projects more viable while delivering meaningful development outcomes. 

A timely conversation on energy finance, investment risk, and what Africa needs to build a more sustainable and affordable energy future.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Gyamfi Ofori speaks with Tabi T. Tabi, founder of Grandville Energy, about Africa’s potential to build a more integrated and competitive clean energy industry.

The conversation explores energy manufacturing, value addition, regional integration, and green industrialisation, with Tabi sharing insights from Grandville Energy’s work across the clean energy value chain. He explains why Africa can move beyond importing finished products by developing local manufacturing capabilities and making better use of the continent’s raw materials, energy resources, and technical talent. 

A major focus is the need for African countries to specialise, collaborate, and build regional value chains rather than each trying to manufacture everything independently. The discussion examines how countries could combine their respective strengths—from raw materials and affordable electricity to infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and access to markets—to create more competitive regional industries. 

The episode also challenges the idea that Africa lacks technical capacity, distinguishing between capability and scale. Tabi highlights skills development and the potential to train a new generation of technicians to support the continent’s expanding energy infrastructure. 

The conversation concludes with a call to move from “talk shops” to action, through stronger public-private partnerships, project preparation, patient capital, better policy implementation, and greater confidence in African businesses and talent.

A practical conversation about how Africa can turn its energy resources, people, and markets into real industrial capacity and affordable clean energy.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Gyamfi Ofori speaks with Dr. Joseph Asenso, Head of the Economics Division at the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), about one of the biggest challenges facing Africa’s energy sector: financing the infrastructure needed to close the continent’s energy access gap. 

The conversation examines project bankability, development finance, and the risks that make energy investments more expensive in Africa. Dr. Asenso explains what financiers look for when assessing energy projects, including signed power purchase agreements, reliable off-takers, sustainable tariffs, and adequate risk protection. 

They also explore the impact of currency depreciation, inflation, payment defaults, and macroeconomic instability on energy investment and electricity costs. The discussion highlights why stabilising these fundamentals is critical to attracting both local and international capital. 

The episode also looks at the growing role of solar, wind, gas, development finance institutions, and pension funds in unlocking capital for Africa’s energy infrastructure—and what governments and investors can do to make projects more viable while delivering meaningful development outcomes. 

A timely conversation on energy finance, investment risk, and what Africa needs to build a more sustainable and affordable energy future.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Gyamfi Ofori speaks with Deprose Muchena, Director for Resources Futures at Open Society Foundations, about the opportunities and blind spots shaping Africa’s critical minerals and resource governance agenda.

The conversation explores why Africa’s mineral wealth must be viewed not only as a source of raw materials for the global energy transition, but as a foundation for the continent’s own economic transformation. Deprose highlights the importance of geological data, scientific capacity, value addition, local content policies, and stronger linkages between mining and the broader economy.

The episode also examines the need to place communities, women, youth, human rights, and environmental stewardship at the center of Africa’s resource future. From artisanal and small-scale mining to regional industrial policy and South-South cooperation, the discussion offers a timely reflection on how Africa can negotiate greater value from its resources while reducing inequality and energy poverty.

Key themes include:

•  Critical minerals and Africa’s development agenda
• Geological data, science, and technological capacity
• Value addition and mineral beneficiation
• Local content and community participation
• Human rights and environmental stewardship
• Energy poverty and inclusive industrialization
• Regional cooperation and South-South solidarity

A thought-provoking discussion on what it will take for Africa to move beyond extraction and build a resource future that delivers economic sovereignty, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Gyamfi Ofori speaks with Michelle Mwambela, CEO of the Association of Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya (AWEIK), about the importance of gender inclusion and partnerships in Africa's energy and extractive sectors. 

The discussion explores the barriers that continue to limit women's participation across mining, energy, and extractive value chains—from social and cultural biases to limited access to finance and technical opportunities. Michelle also highlights the progress being made through education, technology, and targeted advocacy, while emphasizing that meaningful inclusion requires more than policy commitments. 

The conversation further examines why gender equity is central to a just energy transition, discussing energy access, clean cooking, economic empowerment, and how women and youth can play a greater role in delivering sustainable energy solutions. Michelle shares AWEIK's work in strengthening women's participation through skills development, mentorship, and community-based financing models that support clean energy adoption. 

The episode concludes with a call for African governments to move beyond policy formulation and invest in effective implementation, ensuring that women, youth, and vulnerable communities are not left behind in the continent's transition to a sustainable energy future.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Kodzo sits down with Bob Felix Ocitti, Senior Policy Officer for Research, Oil and Gas at the African Energy Commission (AFREC), to explore Africa's evolving energy landscape and the policies shaping the continent's future.

The conversation provides an in-depth look at AFREC's mandate, from developing energy policies and collecting continental energy data to advancing renewable energy, clean cooking, energy transition, and regional energy cooperation. Bob explains why Africa's energy transition must reflect the continent's unique realities—balancing climate commitments with the urgent need for energy access, industrialisation, and economic growth.

The episode also examines the African Common Position on Energy Access and Just Transition, the role of oil and gas in Africa's development, the importance of domestic refining, regional electricity markets, and why affordable, reliable energy is essential for value addition, mining, and manufacturing.

Other key topics include:

- Africa's energy transition and climate commitments
- Clean cooking and energy poverty
- Renewable energy and fossil fuels in Africa's energy mix
- Regional power pools and the African Single Electricity Market
- Energy data and evidence-based policymaking
- Industrialization, critical minerals, and energy security
- Youth participation in Africa's energy future

A comprehensive discussion on how Africa can build an energy system that delivers universal access, economic transformation, and sustainable development while defining its own path in the global energy transition.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Ofori speaks with Mkhululi Ncube of the Africa Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) about two of the continent’s most important frameworks for mineral-led development: the Africa Mining Vision and the African Green Mineral Strategy.

The conversation unpacks a common misconception—that the Africa Mining Vision is merely a mining policy. Instead, it is presented as a broader framework for Africa’s economic transformation, using mineral resources to drive industrialization, value addition, job creation, and sustainable development.

The discussion also explores how the African Green Mineral Strategy builds on this vision by positioning Africa to benefit from the global energy transition. From critical mineral value chains and local beneficiation to research, innovation, and human capital development, the episode examines how African countries can move beyond resource extraction to capture greater value from their natural wealth.

Key themes include:

• The future of mineral value chains in Africa
• Industrialization and economic transformation
• The African Green Mineral Strategy (AGMS)
• Critical and green minerals in the energy transition
• Value addition, local content, and beneficiation
• Policy implementation and regional cooperation

A timely conversation on how Africa can leverage its mineral resources not just for extraction, but for long-term economic development and structural transformation.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles Ofori speaks with Alaka Lugonzo, Partnerships Lead at Global Witness, on the evolving role of civil society in Africa’s extractive and energy sectors.

The conversation explores how advocacy around human rights, transparency, and environmental accountability has shifted from internal civil society discussions to direct engagement with governments, investors, and private sector actors. Alaka shares insights on the importance of securing a social license to operate for mining companies, the growing relevance of ESG and sustainability standards, and why stronger partnerships between communities, governments, and civil society are essential for responsible resource development.

The episode also addresses the challenges faced by organizations working in restricted civic spaces and highlights how strategic partnerships can help human rights defenders continue their work while reducing risk.

A thoughtful discussion on mining governance, community rights, and the future of accountability in Africa’s resource sector.

In this episode of Blindspot Africa, Charles sits down with Kudakwashe Manjonjo, Just Transition Advisor at Power Shift Africa, to unpack one of the most critical questions facing the continent: how Africa can move from being a raw resource supplier to a global powerhouse in the green energy transition.

The conversation explores the African Green Mineral Strategy (AGMS), the urgency of building local value chains, and why Africa’s real challenge may not be resources—but vision, coordination, and political will. From the reality of 600 million people without electricity to the opportunity to reshape global supply chains, this episode challenges conventional thinking on development, trade, and energy.

A sharp, forward-looking discussion on Africa’s economic future—and what it will take to secure it.