Ministers' Roundtable — Political Leadership for Power Sector Reform: Challenges, Trade-offs, and Accountability

This ministerial roundtable convenes energy and finance ministers to discuss the political economy of power sector reform in Africa. Under the Chatham House Rule, participants exchange experiences navigating politically sensitive reforms — tariff adjustments, utility governance, fiscal sustainability, and regional power market integration — while identifying practical approaches to sustaining reform momentum and strengthening accountability.

Speakers include H.E. Édouard Dahomé (Benin), Hon. Mariama Ciré Sylla (Guinea), Hon. J. Opiyo Wandayi (Kenya), Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson (Ghana), Hon. Deogratius John Ndejembi (Tanzania), Hon. Cheikh Diba (Senegal), Dr. Eng. Habtamu Itefa Geleta (Ethiopia), Hon. R. Matenokay Tingban (Liberia) and Mrs. Rania Antonopoulou (Levy Economics Institute).

Objective: enable peer-to-peer dialogue among ministers on the political, institutional and fiscal dimensions of reform and foster alignment on priority actions. Expected outcomes: shared understanding of the drivers and trade-offs of reform; priority national and regional actions identified to strengthen utility and regulatory performance; ministerial recommendations feeding the Cotonou Action Agenda.