Assessing the determinants and drivers of multidimensional energy poverty in Ghana

Highlights: • Reductions in multidimensional energy poverty levels between 2008 and 2014. • The incidence and intensity of multidimensional energy poverty remains high. • Substantial subgroup differences in multidimensional energy poverty. • Household characteristics are significant to energy poverty status. • Reductions in energy poverty driven by structural and policy changes. -- Abstract: Improving household access and use of clean energy has been central to global development efforts in recent years. The negative effects of energy poverty on health, climate, livelihoods and economy has led to increased investments towards achieving universal access to clean energy. However, significant deprivations in clean energy remains, especially in developing countries. Energy poverty may involve simultaneous deprivations on availability and affordability of clean energy. Using repeated cross-sectional data, this paper assesses the extent and determinants of multidimensional energy poverty in Ghana between 2008 and 2014. The paper finds that though the level of multidimensional energy poverty reduced in Ghana between 2008 and 2014, the incidence and intensity of multidimensional energy poverty remains high. Further, we find substantial subgroup differences in multidimensional energy poverty. The results reveal significant relationships between household characteristics and the multidimensional energy poverty status of households. The reductions in multidimensional energy poverty were driven by the coefficient effects attributable to structural and policy changes over the period. To facilitate universal access to clean energy and reduce the degree of multidimensional energy poverty, there is the need to intensify the LPG promotion campaign and adopt strategies that target left-behind and underserved groups.