Name: Grandmothers light up rural Ghana with solar power
Uploaded: 2025-12-19T14:57:29.665Z
Duration: 6 min 23 s
Description: Off-grid villages in northern Ghana have long suffered from a lack of lighting and electricity. Now an older generation of women solar installers is bringing change.

Off-grid villages in northern Ghana have long suffered from a lack of lighting and electricity. Now an older generation of women solar installers is bringing change.

Accra

In the rural community of Dupare in northern Ghana, women known as 'solar grandmothers' have become key figures in the fight against energy poverty. After receiving training through a UN program at Barefoot College in India, Salamatu Abukari and Nimnatu Abudu returned to their village to install and maintain solar panels, replacing traditional lamps and reducing reliance on batteries.

Their efforts have led to brighter, safer nights and increased respect for women in the community. Over 150 solar panels have been installed by five trained women, and the skills are being passed on to younger generations. While the UN-funded program has ended, local leaders highlight the need for government support to expand electrification efforts.

Grandmothers light up rural Ghana with solar power

Salamata Abukari is 65 years young and known here as a solar grandmother. Today, she is repairing a loose connection in a power model. Apart from her, there are no trained solar technicians in the village. If a solar facility breaks down in this community, they call me. Some closely watch so they can fix their own system when I'm not around. I want to share my knowledge so that everyone understands a little about solar power. Her customer had to go to Mars without use of his solar-powered lamp. Now, it works just fine again. She is doing a great job. Since she came along 10 years ago, everyone has gotten rid of their grey resin lamps. And the hassle of buying flashlights and batteries is now a thing of the past. Dupare is a small community north in Ghana. Energy poverty is still widespread in the region, with around a quarter of households not connected to the grid. Pylons did arrive in Dupare 15 years ago, but were not followed by actual power. Then, fate intervened in the shape of the solar grandmothers, Salamatu Abukari and Nimnatu Abudu. Their journey to becoming solar technicians is an extraordinary one. Over 10 years ago, the two women were selected by their villages to embark on a special mission. After flying all the way to India and making their way to Barefoot College in Rajasthan state, they attended a UN program that combines female empowerment with the fight against energy poverty. Together with three other women from their region, they learned how to install solar panels and carry out repairs. The biggest challenge was the language barrier. But once they started showing us, step by step, how to connect panels and wire up batteries, learning became easy. When they gave us books, we couldn't follow, we just had to guess. There was no fear anymore because we relied on each other. If you didn't understand something, there would always be someone to help. We came from different countries to learn. They taught us the work. We benefited a lot and got to really appreciate each other. Now we're back home and are busy doing our new job. And thanks to their help, that power is lighting up homes. The solar grandmothers are passing on their expertise. A UN program has enabled Salamatu Abukari to set up her own workshop. She's already trained 10 people so that they can now run their own small-scale solar systems at home. I train them for a reason. When I had the skill alone, it didn't benefit many people. But by training the younger ones, they can pass it on and help even more. Some of those I've trained are now studying photovoltaic technology in school. Kasanga Sonoba is proud of what her fellow villager has achieved. Salamatu Abukari's success has also bolstered respect for women in the community. Hajiya Salamatu went and learned. And when she came back, the whole community praised her and gave her our support. What she learned is good for the future. I see that as inclusion. When another opportunity comes, we'll all get involved. As for the village's male residents, opinion is divided on the matter. There is a saying that what men can do, women can equally do it better. She has been moving from house to house, installing them. When they have problems, she comes and solves the problem. In Dupari itself, the nights are now brighter. The new lights have brought a greater sense of security and new energy into village life. This report taught me one clear thing. It is not about education before you can contribute to development. These women have not gone to school. They basically can understand what alphabets and numeracies are. But they are able to contribute significantly in terms of bridging energy poverty in their communities. Over 150 solar panels have been installed around the region by five solar grammars. The UN-funded electrification program has ended. Bringing more reliable power to northern Ghana will require more than the expertise of the women. What these solar engineers are doing, they are just complementing the efforts of government. What I'll add is that the government should create an enabling environment so that we can have opportunities of public-private partnerships, so that more of the solar panels and the batteries can be installed. Barring sickness or death, by the grace of God, I pledge to do this work till the end of my life. There has already been significant change in Dupari. Empowerment for local women and more power for the village, thanks to the solar grammars lighting the way to a brighter future.

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