The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for increased investment in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector as the country seeks to strengthen its energy security, create jobs and accelerate industrialisation.
Dr Jinapor made the call in his opening remarks at the 2026 Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, where he welcomed ministers, heads of delegation, industry leaders, investors and development partners to Ghana.
He outlined a series of fiscal and regulatory reforms being pursued by government to make Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector more competitive, predictable and attractive to investors.
According to the Minister, the reforms are designed to improve investor confidence, unlock new exploration and development opportunities, and create a more responsive investment environment capable of attracting the capital needed to develop Ghana’s petroleum resources.
He stressed, however, that attracting investment must go hand in hand with ensuring that Ghana secures a fair and sustainable share of the value generated from its natural resources.
Dr Jinapor said government’s broader ambition was to move the country beyond the extraction of natural resources towards greater value creation and industrial development.
He noted that the petroleum sector must contribute meaningfully to job creation, industrialisation and long-term energy security.
He urged participants at Africa Oil Week 2026 to ensure that discussions and engagements translate into concrete investments and partnerships capable of delivering tangible development outcomes for Ghana and the wider African continent.
“AOW 2026 must translate dialogue into investment, investment into partnerships, and partnerships into tangible development for Ghana and Africa,” he said.
The Minister also stressed the need for Africa’s energy future to be shaped by ambition and pragmatism, with a strong focus on sustainable prosperity and improving the wellbeing of people across the continent.
