Ghana’s Petroleum Sector
From the wellhead to the pump – a resource, responsibly managed.
Upstream exploration and production, gas commercialisation and infrastructure, and a deregulated downstream — the full value chain positioning Ghana as a petroleum hub in West Africa.
At a glance
Three segments, one regulated industry.
Ghana’s power supply is drawn from hydroelectricity, thermal plants fueled by crude oil, natural gas and diesel, solar, and imports from La Côte d’Ivoire. Ghana exports power to Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso — with grid expansions set to open more sub-regional trade.
Reforms in the 1980s dismantled barriers to entry and created a level playing field for independent power producers alongside public sector generators.
01 — Upstream
Exploration, appraisal, production — and prudent stewardship.
Ghana’s power supply is drawn from hydroelectricity, thermal plants fueled by crude oil, natural gas and diesel, solar, and imports from La Côte d’Ivoire. Ghana exports power to Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso — with grid expansions set to open more sub-regional trade.
Reforms in the 1980s dismantled barriers to entry and created a level playing field for independent power producers alongside public sector generators.
Western Basin
Tano — Cape Three Points
Well explored — producing
Central Basin
Saltpond
Well explored
Voltaian Basin
Onshore
Frontier — little exploration
Eastern Basin
Accra — Keta
Fairly well explored
Producing fields
Three offshore developments
Ghana currently has three offshore producing fields, with first gas from the Sankofa & Gye Nyame Field on stream since Q3 2018.
Jubilee
First oil · 2010
Ghana’s first commercial oil production — the anchor of the Western Basin.
TEN
First oil · 2016
Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme — a multi-reservoir deepwater development.
Sankofa & Gye Nyame
First oil · 2017
Oil producing since 2017; first gas came on stream in Q3 2018.
02 — Gas commercialisation
Turning gas reserves into industry, power and jobs.
Significant associated and non-associated gas reserves have opened the door to diversifying the economy — powering industrialisation and enabling new industries including commercial-scale fertiliser production and petrochemicals.
Inadequate infrastructure, monetisation constraints and technical expertise remain challenges. The Gas Master Plan provides the framework for prioritisation, infrastructure planning and pricing.
Gas Infrastructure Project — Phase 1 (complete)
Offshore pipeline
Onshore pipeline
Gas Processing Plant
150 mmscfd
Gas Master Plan — pillars
Prioritisation of gas use in power & non-power sectors
Transparent gas pricing framework
Gas infrastructure development planning
Enabling environment for investment
03 — Downstream
A deregulated market, primed to become a sub-regional hub.
The downstream subsector covers the importation of crude oil and finished products, refining, storage, transportation (road, rail, lake and ocean), marketing and sale of petroleum products. The market has been deregulated and operates on international best practice.
Downstream value chain
Step 01
Importation
Crude & finished products
Step 02
Refining
Local processing capacity
Step 03
Storage
Strategic reserves
Step 04
Transport
Road, rail, lake & ocean
Step 05
Marketing
Retail across the sub-region
Deregulation wins
Targets achieved by the Deregulation Policy
Removal of restrictions on the establishment and operation of petroleum infrastructural facilities.
Removal of restrictions on the importation of crude oil and finished petroleum products.
Full liberalisation of petroleum product pricing.
Looking ahead
Consolidating the gains — and building the hub.
The Ministry will consolidate the gains of price deregulation by commencing the deregulation of transportation — driving profitability and efficiency across the downstream.
As Ghana positions itself as a petroleum hub in the sub-region, further investment in infrastructure will be encouraged, and regulations will create the enabling environment for market forces to compete.
04 — Legal & regulatory
The legislation underpinning transparent management.
The National Electrification Scheme (NES) was instituted in 1989 with the policy objective of reliable electricity for every corner of Ghana. From roughly 20% access in 1990, the country has climbed to the highest access rate in Sub-Saharan Africa — and is pushing toward universal coverage.
GNPC Law, 1983
PNDCL 64
Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (as amended)
Act 815
Local Content and Local Participation Regulations, 2013
L.I. 2204
Petroleum (E&P) (Measurement) Regulations, 2016
L.I. 2246
Income Tax Act, 2015
Act 896
Petroleum Commission Act, 2011
Act 821
Petroleum (Exploration & Production) Act, 2016
Act 919
Petroleum Commission (Fees & Charges) Regulations, 2015
L.I. 2221