Ghana Unveils West Africa’s First Nearly Zero-Energy Building in Accra

Ghana has inaugurated West Africa’s first Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) in Accra, a landmark €1 million project funded by the German Government with technical support from the German development agency GIZ.

The innovative facility generates 88% of its electricity from solar power and has been designed with the capacity to feed surplus energy into the national grid once net metering becomes fully operational.

Constructed mainly with locally sourced materials, the NZEB limits imports to only air conditioners and lighting. It aligns with Ghana’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and showcases the practical integration of renewable energy solutions in modern construction.

Beyond serving as a model of sustainability, the building will also house an Energy Academy to train future professionals in renewable energy and energy-efficient construction practices.

Highlighting the broader impact of the project, Tangmor Marmor, Cluster Co-coordinator at GIZ, stated, “We are not only making the Energy Commission stronger, but also we want to strengthen the entire energy sector and the building sector.”

The project signals a new direction for Ghana’s building industry, opening the door for sustainable practices that could reshape urban development. By integrating renewable energy into infrastructure on a large scale, Ghana is positioning itself as a leader in green building solutions in the sub-region. For policymakers, developers, and construction firms, the NZEB sets a benchmark that could influence future housing, office, and industrial