WAPP Chairman Calls for Urgent Reforms to Strengthen West Africa Regional Power Market
The Chairman of the Executive Board of the West African Power Pool (WAPP), Engr. (Dr.) Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, has called for decisive action to strengthen the institution’s governance and accelerate the development of a reliable regional electricity market, describing ongoing restructuring efforts as a “strategic necessity” for the future of power integration in West Africa.
Speaking at the 67th meeting of the WAPP Executive Board held in Lomé, Togo recently, Abdulaziz said WAPP must reorganise its structures, increase transparency, and improve efficiency as cross-border electricity exchanges expand to meet growing demand across member states.
He noted that the meeting comes at a critical time for the regional power sector, amid increasing pressure to deliver a more integrated, competitive, and sustainable electricity system. Strengthening interconnections, advancing the Regional Electricity Market, and maintaining effective governance remain central to WAPP’s mandate, he added.
A key focus was the review of a restructuring study and its recommendations, which the Chairman described as essential to improving WAPP’s institutional effectiveness. He urged board members to assess the proposals critically, identify immediate priorities, and ensure reforms are implemented in a practical, results-driven manner.
Abdulaziz outlined three guiding principles for the reforms: continuity of WAPP’s mandate, strong governance discipline, and realistic implementation supported by adequate resources and measurable outcomes. These, he said, will ensure reforms translate to progress. He stressed that the Executive Board must provide clear direction while equipping the Secretariat with the mandate and tools required to act effectively.
The Chairman linked governance to financial stability, noting that unlocking predictable, market-based revenue streams through the reforms is critical to sustaining progress in market development, system coordination, and regional capacity building. Financial discipline, he added, is central to the organisation’s credibility.
He commended the WAPP Secretariat for its work under challenging conditions and called for sustained emphasis on efficiency, transparency, and prudent resource management. A strong, well-governed regional market operator is essential to increasing electricity trade, improving supply reliability, reducing costs through regional optimisation, and attracting investment, he said.
In his welcome address, WAPP Secretary General Mr. Abdoulaye Dia described the meeting as a critical milestone for governance reform. He highlighted the need to assess implementation of 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 ECOWAS Member States. He noted progress in grid interconnections and market preparation but said challenges persist, including limited electricity access, rising demand, significant investment needs, and the fragile financial position of sector actors. He stressed the need to achieve permanent synchronization of West African utilities this year.
On restructuring, Dia said the reform is fundamental to building a more robust, 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.
He emphasized stronger financial discipline and collective responsibility, particularly in the timely payment of member contributions. Key priorities, he said, include accelerating interconnection projects, improving system synchronization, strengthening market mechanisms, and enhancing institutional capacity to deliver reliable, accessible, and affordable electricity.
Three new rotating board members were introduced at the meeting: Mr. Gallo Saidy representing the National Water and Electricity Company of Gambia; Mr. Justice Kyere representing the Bui Power Authority of Ghana; and Mr. Mysbaou Adam Assa representing the Société Béninoise de Production d’Électricité.
In a statement, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated that the meeting brought together senior representatives of member utilities and Directors of the WAPP Secretariat to review progress and set strategic priorities for advancing regional energy integration across West Africa.
