Deputy Energy Minister Reaffirms Ghana’s Commitment to Gas-Led Development at West Africa Gas Summit
Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, has used the opening of the West Africa Gas Summit 2026 in Accra to restate the government’s commitment to positioning natural gas as the primary driver of energy security, industrial growth and regional cooperation across West Africa.
Speaking on behalf of Energy Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor at the summit’s opening ceremony, the Gomoa West MP told delegates that Ghana views gas not merely as a fuel source but as a transition mechanism capable of catalysing broader economic transformation.
“I emphasised Ghana’s ongoing commitment to making gas a transition fuel and a driving force for energy security, industrial growth, regional cooperation, job creation and better livelihoods throughout West Africa,” Mr Gyan-Mensah said.
The summit, chaired by Venerable Tsatsu Tsikata, former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, brought together senior energy officials and industry leaders from across the sub-region. Among the dignitaries present were Chafari Kanya Hanawa, Director General of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority; Ed Ubong, Coordinating Director of Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative; and Alioune Gueye, CEO of Groupe PETROSEN.
The Deputy Minister stressed that enhanced collaboration among West African countries is essential to unlock the full potential of the region’s gas resources. He expressed optimism that the summit’s discussions would strengthen partnerships and foster a more integrated and resilient energy sector across the sub-region.
Ghana’s gas ambitions have been gathering institutional momentum. The state-owned Ghana Gas recently reaffirmed its partnership with the National Petroleum Authority in a high-level meeting, a signal that the government is serious about building the domestic infrastructure needed to support a gas-led energy strategy.
The summit comes at a critical juncture for West Africa’s energy landscape. With global markets increasingly volatile and the continent under pressure to balance economic development with climate commitments, the case for natural gas as a bridge fuel—cheaper and cleaner than oil or coal but still carbon-emitting—has become central to energy policy debates across the region.
Mr Gyan-Mensah’s message was clear: Ghana intends to lead from the front. By championing joint investments, policy harmonisation and infrastructure partnerships, the government hopes to turn West Africa’s gas reserves into a platform for shared prosperity rather than a source of geopolitical competition.
The West Africa Gas Summit 2026 continues in Accra this week, with sessions focused on deal-making, knowledge-sharing and networking among the region’s energy stakeholders.
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