Ghana’s downstream petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has urged African petroleum sector regulators to continuously review their policies to ensure they remain responsive to emerging technologies, changing market conditions and evolving environmental considerations.
Speaking at the opening of the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GHiPCON 2026), NPA Chief Executive Officer Godwin Edudzi Tameklo Esq. said regulators and industry players must adapt to a rapidly changing global energy landscape.
He called on industry stakeholders to invest in operational excellence, safety, research and development, workforce capacity and digital transformation to remain competitive.
Addressing the conference on the theme, *”Building a Resilient Downstream: Policy, Innovation and Investment for Growth,”* Tameklo said recent tensions in the Middle East, which disrupted fuel supplies and pushed up pump prices, had highlighted the need for stronger and more resilient downstream petroleum systems.
“This year’s GHiPCON is more crucial than ever as we seek innovative solutions to attract investment, build buffers against external shocks in the fuel supply chain and mitigate their impact sustainably for our governments and people,” he said.
“Resilience means ensuring reliable fuel supply, strengthening energy security, improving infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and building institutions capable of responding effectively to changing market conditions,” he added.
Tameklo said sustained investment by both the public and private sectors would be essential to expand, modernize and improve the competitiveness of the downstream petroleum industry.
“Without sustained public and private investment, it will be difficult to build the infrastructure, technology and human capital needed to support Ghana’s long-term energy aspirations,” he said.
He said the NPA continued to implement policy and technology-driven initiatives to regulate, supervise and monitor downstream petroleum service providers, improve compliance, ensure a reliable fuel supply, guarantee fuel quality and promote investment across the sector.
The two-day conference has brought together policymakers, industry executives, investors, academics and other stakeholders from 25 countries to discuss regulatory reforms, infrastructure development, energy security, financing opportunities, local content, regional trade, technological innovation, environmental sustainability and the role of the private sector in driving growth.
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the country’s petroleum sector through increased oil and gas exploration and production.
He said the government was pursuing an aggressive strategy to boost crude oil and natural gas production through new discoveries while strengthening domestic refining capacity.
According to the minister, both the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Sentuo Oil Refinery have committed to refining up to one million barrels of Ghanaian crude oil.
He said the initiative would increase value addition, boost domestic gas supply, reduce imports of refined petroleum products and strengthen the country’s energy security.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Patrick Kwaku Ofori, said policy consistency, transparency and predictability were critical to attracting long-term investment into the sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Riverson Oppong, called for sustained investment in petroleum storage infrastructure, digital systems, local refining capacity and road networks linking ports, depots and markets.
He said strengthening these areas would improve operational efficiency, enhance supply chain resilience and support Ghana’s ambition of becoming a regional petroleum hub.
GHiPCON 2026 is jointly organised by the National Petroleum Authority, the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
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