The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) of Ghana has forged agreements with Senegal and Gambia to facilitate the importation of petroleum products from Ghana, expanding its network of international partners that already includes Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo.
In 2023, Ghana exported and transited 385,154,100 litres of petroleum products to neighbouring countries, underscoring its role as a regional hub for energy distribution. Speaking at the Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhiPCon), NPA CEO Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid credited this growth to the NPA’s stringent measures against illicit fuel activities.
The petroleum sector in Ghana now boasts over 3,000 registered service providers, with local participation playing a significant role in delivering over four million metric tonnes of petroleum products annually. Dr Abdul-Hamid highlighted that the sector contributed over GH¢71 billion to Ghana’s economy in 2023, representing 84% of the country’s GDP.
Emphasizing the NPA’s commitment to technological innovation, Dr. Abdul-Hamid outlined strategies to enhance efficiency and ensure value for consumers. Reforms in pricing, moving from annual regulated prices to bi-weekly and daily adjustments via transparent, automatic formulas, have also been implemented.
Under Dr Abdul-Hamid’s leadership, the NPA has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards toxic fuels, aligning with international standards by promoting the consumption of low-sulfur fuels. The agency has introduced robust technology-based measures, including a petroleum marking scheme, bulk road vehicle tracking project, electronic cargo tracking system, and enterprise relational database management software to uphold product quality and quantity.
The Minister of Energy, speaking on behalf of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, praised the NPA’s management of initiatives such as the “Gold for Oil” programme and the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), which have bolstered investor confidence in Ghana’s energy sector.
In closing, Vice President Bawumia urged the NPA to continue investing in infrastructure and cutting-edge technology to strengthen Ghana’s energy supply chain amidst global challenges. He affirmed the government’s commitment to policies that promote local content, capacity building, and economic opportunities for all Ghanaians, aiming to ensure equitable distribution of Ghana’s resource benefits.
The NPA’s initiatives underscore Ghana’s strategic role in regional energy dynamics, positioning the country as a pivotal player in West Africa’s petroleum sector.
