Ghana Oil Public Limited Company (GOIL PLC) has expressed interest in engaging the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) engineering services for future construction projects as part of efforts to deepen institutional collaboration.
The state owned petroleum company made the proposal during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, at General Headquarters on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The delegation was led by GOIL’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Edward Abambire Bawa.
During the meeting, Bawa commended GAF for the long standing and fruitful partnership between the two institutions. He emphasized GOIL’s appreciation for the relationship that has developed over years of cooperation, particularly in fuel supply and related petroleum products.
The GOIL chief executive outlined plans for infrastructure expansion that could benefit from military engineering expertise. He expressed confidence that GAF possesses the technical capacity and operational readiness required to support the company’s construction initiatives.
Lt Gen Agyapong thanked the delegation for the visit and acknowledged GOIL’s consistent cooperation with the armed forces. He specifically noted the company’s unwavering support during challenging periods faced by GAF, describing the relationship as mutually beneficial.
The defence chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing synergy between both institutions. He announced that a technical committee would be established within GAF to further deepen ties and explore concrete areas of collaboration beyond current arrangements.
Lt Gen Agyapong confirmed that GAF possesses the requisite equipment, expertise and operational readiness to support GOIL’s construction initiatives. The military maintains engineering units with substantial experience in infrastructure projects across Ghana, including roads, bridges and facility construction.
Present at the meeting were senior GOIL executives including Chief Operations Officer Dr Marcus Dake, Group Chief Finance Officer Mr Robert Lartey, and Head of Corporate Affairs Mr Robert Kyere. Other GOIL directors accompanied the delegation to discuss framework details for potential collaboration.
GOIL, originally established as AGIP PETROLI in Ghana in 1960, has evolved into a major player in the petroleum sector. The company provides products and services including fuels, lubricants and aviation fuel across more than 500 service stations nationwide.
The company serves as a major supplier of fuel and related supplies to GAF, maintaining a commercial relationship that extends back decades. This existing partnership has provided a foundation for exploring broader areas of cooperation beyond traditional procurement arrangements.
GAF engineering capabilities have been demonstrated through various national projects. Military engineers have supported disaster response operations, constructed strategic infrastructure and provided technical assistance to government ministries and agencies requiring specialized skills.
The proposed collaboration would represent an expansion of public sector partnerships that leverage military technical expertise for civilian applications. Similar arrangements exist between GAF and other government institutions requiring engineering and construction support.
Lt Gen William Agyapong was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President John Dramani Mahama on March 17, 2025, succeeding General Thomas Oppong Peprah. He was subsequently promoted from two star general to three star general effective May 1, 2025.
The general is an infantry officer commissioned in 1990 with over three decades of military experience, having joined GAF in 1988. He has held key roles including Director of Army Administration, Director General of Defence Industries and commander of Operation Vanguard, an anti illegal mining task force.
His international peacekeeping experience spans missions in Liberia, Gambia, Lebanon, Rwanda and Chad. He served as a strategic planner at the United Nations (UN) Secretariat and as Military Advisor to Ghana’s UN Permanent Representative before his current appointment.
Edward Abambire Bawa is a distinguished energy policy expert and communications professional who currently serves as Group CEO and Managing Director of GOIL PLC. He previously served as Member of Parliament for Bongo Constituency and held pivotal roles including Head of the Communication Unit at the Ministry of Energy.
Bawa worked as a communications consultant for the World Bank’s Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project for six years. He has extensive experience in energy policy analysis, regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement, having been instrumental in drafting and amending energy related legislation.
GOIL continues expanding its network across Ghana with recent openings including its 55th fuel station in the Tema Zone. The company has emphasized commitment to supporting national development while maintaining commercial viability and competitive service delivery.
The establishment of a technical committee to explore collaboration signals both institutions’ seriousness about translating discussions into concrete action. The committee will likely examine specific construction projects where military engineering expertise could provide value while ensuring appropriate compensation arrangements.
Such partnerships align with broader government efforts to maximize utilization of state resources and technical capabilities across public institutions. GAF engineering units maintain equipment and trained personnel that could supplement private sector contractors on strategic projects.
The meeting concluded with commitments from both sides to maintain regular communication and advance collaboration planning through the technical committee. Details on committee composition, terms of reference and timeline for deliverables are expected to be announced following internal consultations.
GOIL’s interest in GAF engineering services reflects confidence in military technical standards and project execution capabilities. The potential partnership could provide a model for other state owned enterprises seeking to leverage military expertise for civilian infrastructure development.
