Ghana reviews petroleum law to support energy transition

The Ministry of Energy has begun reviewing the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Act to align the country’s petroleum regulations with its energy transition agenda.

The announcement was made by Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor at a stakeholder forum in Accra. The meeting was organised to gather input from industry players as the government works to update the 20-year-old law.

Mr. Jinapor said the reforms are aimed at modernising the downstream petroleum sector and creating space for private investment in low-carbon solutions. He explained that the revised Act will focus on four main areas: power, resource control, authority, and policy.

“If we get it right, we do it for Ghana. If we delay, we only delay ourselves,” the Minister said. He noted that after consultations, a draft bill will be submitted to the Cabinet for further review.

NPA Chief Executive Officer, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, described the review as timely. He said the Act, which was passed in 2005, has not kept pace with developments in the industry. “The industry has evolved significantly. Now we must look ahead to the next 20 years,” he told participants.

The forum also drew representatives from the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST), Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL), and the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors.

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Officials say the new Act will provide a modern regulatory framework that responds to current global energy trends while supporting Ghana’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy.