Emerging countries including Ghana have witnessed significant growth in their industrialisation and urbanisation. Getting an understanding of their effects on carbon emissions has gained the attention of researchers in recent times. However, the extant studies lack analysis of the moderating role of an electricity crisis on the carbon emission effect of urbanisation and industrialisation. This study assesses the environmental effect of industrialisation and urbanisation in Ghana by analysing how the electricity crisis interacts with the two to affect carbon emissions.

Despite being the region with the least levels of carbon emissions in the world, African countries are facing unique challenges on climate change, increased carbon emission levels and the need for environmental governance improvement. This study, therefore, examined the implications of economic growth and governance on CO2 emissions in West Africa. Specifically, the study investigated the role of governance in moderating the effect of economic growth on CO2 emissions in West Africa.