Power Play: WAPP Boss Demands Urgent Reforms to Fix West Africa’s Electricity Market

..... As Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz calls for swift and decisive reforms to strengthen the region’s electricity market.

..... Warns that ongoing restructuring is a “strategic necessity” for the future of power integration across West Africa.

The Chairman of the Executive Board of the West African Power Pool (WAPP), Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, has called for swift and decisive reforms to strengthen the region’s electricity market, warning that ongoing restructuring is a “strategic necessity” for the future of power integration across West Africa.

Speaking at the 67th WAPP Executive Board meeting held in Lomé on May 4, 2026, Abdulaziz stressed the urgency of repositioning the organisation as cross-border electricity trade continues to expand.

“As exchanges grow, WAPP must reorganize its structures, increase transparency, and improve efficiency to meet rising demand and expectations across member states,” he said.

He described the meeting as coming at a critical moment for the regional power sector, which faces mounting pressure to deliver a more integrated, competitive, and sustainable electricity system. He reiterated that strengthening interconnections, advancing the Regional Electricity Market, and ensuring effective governance remain central to WAPP’s mandate.

A major highlight of the meeting was the review of a restructuring study, which Abdulaziz said is vital to improving the institution’s effectiveness. He urged board members to critically assess the recommendations, identify priority actions, and ensure reforms are implemented in a practical, results-driven manner.

Outlining the pathway forward, the WAPP chairman identified three guiding principles for the reform process: continuity of the organisation’s mandate, strong governance discipline, and realistic implementation backed by adequate resources and measurable outcomes.

“These will ensure that reforms translate into tangible progress,” he said, adding that the Executive Board must provide clear direction while empowering the Secretariat with the tools needed for effective execution.

Abdulaziz also underscored the link between governance and financial sustainability, noting that predictable, market-based revenue streams are essential to support system coordination, market development, and regional capacity building.

“Financial discipline is central to the organisation’s credibility,” he added.

He commended the WAPP Secretariat for operating under challenging conditions and called for sustained commitment to efficiency, transparency, and prudent resource management. According to him, a strong and well-governed regional market operator is key to boosting electricity trade, improving supply reliability, reducing costs, and attracting investment.

In his remarks, the Secretary General of WAPP, Addoulaye Dia, described the meeting as a critical milestone in advancing governance reforms.

He said the gathering provided an opportunity to review past decisions, evaluate progress, identify constraints, and set clear directions for accelerating regional energy integration.

Dia reaffirmed WAPP’s mandate to promote regional electricity infrastructure and coordinate power exchanges among member states of the Economic Community of West African States.

While acknowledging progress in grid interconnections and market preparations, he pointed to persistent challenges, including limited electricity access, rising demand, funding gaps, and the fragile financial state of sector players.

He emphasised the need to achieve “the permanent synchronization of the West African utilities this year,” describing it as critical to unlocking the full benefits of regional integration.

On the restructuring agenda, Dia stressed that reform is fundamental to building a more robust and efficient institutional framework aligned with a functional regional electricity market.

He called for a transition “from study to implementation through realistic, phased, and adequately funded reforms,” including the gradual establishment of an independent market operator and clearer institutional roles.

Highlighting the importance of accountability, he urged member states to uphold financial discipline, particularly in the timely payment of contributions.

He listed key priorities to include accelerating interconnection projects, improving system synchronization, strengthening market mechanisms, and enhancing institutional capacity.

“Delivering reliable, accessible, and affordable electricity remains the ultimate goal,” he said.

The meeting also featured the introduction of three new rotating board members, representing national power utilities in The Gambia, Ghana, and Benin.

Senior representatives of member utilities and directors of the WAPP Secretariat were in attendance to review progress and chart strategic priorities for advancing regional energy integration across West Africa.